Bidding for a record-extending 13th Hong Kong trainers’ championship, John Size forged to a four-win lead in the 2024/25 standings with a treble at Sha Tin on Saturday (15 March) as the master horseman targets a fourth BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) triumph next weekend.
Size boosted his tally to 42 wins and cemented his place at the top of the trainers’ standings over David Hayes (38) after striking with Crossborderpegasus, Lifeline Express and Juneau Pride – eight days out from saddling Bundle Award, Mickley and Beauty Alliance in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby.
The Australian combined with Crossborderpegasus under Hugh Bowman in the Class 4 Azalea Handicap (1200m) and also scored with Lifeline Express for Andrea Atzeni in the Class 3 Angelonia Handicap (1200m) and Juneau Pride under Brenton Avdulla in the second section of the Class 3 Cosmos Handicap (1400m).
In a familiar scenario, Size’s stable has hit its straps after a sedate opening to the season. In five meetings this month alone, Size has slotted 10 wins, including a treble and three doubles in a powerhouse surge.
Bowman boosted his tally to 48 wins – a haul bettered only by sidelined Zac Purton (84) – with wins on Crossborderpegasus, Sunlight Power for Ricky Yiu in the Class 2 The Kowloon Tong Club Trophy Handicap (1600m) and Monarch County for Caspar Fownes in the Class 4 Hydrangea Handicap (1400m).
“It’s been a good day. I had some nice rides. Take it when you can,” Bowman said before praising Sunlight Power’s effort. “It was a pretty solid speed set up front that suited him and obviously he’s performed well on rain-affected ground before and he just got into a beautiful rhythm and his class shone.”