Second in this race last year, Red Lion scored an upset victory in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 27 April by a gripping short head over Voyage Bubble for jockey Hugh Bowman and trainer John Size.
Breaking from gate 12 as an 89/1 outsider, Red Lion became the longest-priced winner in the race’s history as the six-year-old Belardo gelding tenaciously made all in 1m 33.21s, eventually holding success after an inquiry and several nervous moments as Stewards deliberated following a brush of contact between Red Lion and Voyage Bubble in the closing stages.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s former Chairman Ronald Arculli and his wife Johanna own Red Lion. A long-term passionate owner, Arculli also raced globetrotter Red Cadeaux and legend River Verdon – the only winner of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown in 1993/94.
Red Lion lifts his earnings to HK$34.81 million with his sixth career win at his 29th start, giving Size a fifth race victory following Electronic Unicorn (2003), Sight Winner (2009), Contentment (2017) and Beauty Eternal (2024).
“He ran second in the race last year. Congratulations to John and the ownership group because he’s such a consistent horse and he’s a worthy Group 1 winner, but I’m a bit lost for words to be honest,” Bowman said.