John Size’s dominance of the HK$4.2 million G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m) continued at Sha Tin on Sunday (4 January) when Stellar Express (116lb) delivered the master trainer’s sixth victory in the race.

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, Stellar Express delivered 13-time Hong Kong champion trainer Size’s third win in the race since 2022 – after the previous triumphs of Grand Delight (2003), Amazing Kids (2017), Premiere (2018), Sight Success (2023) and Howdeepisyourlove (2025).

Size slotted a double to continue a familiar mid-season surge to have 16 wins for the campaign after Stellar Express posted his fourth course and distance triumph with an explosive display of speed.

“He seemed to leave nothing else to chance, he jumped cleanly and got to the front and just made one act of it,” said Size. “He’s done that before, when he gets some favours on this track, down the outside, he seems to keep running – he certainly enjoys it.

“The light weight is going to help, but he looks like a track specialist over the course and distance.”

Jumping from gate five, Stellar Express quickly cleared the rest of the field and crossed to the grandstand rail to take control of the contest. Leading by four lengths at the 200m, the French-bred gelding posted his fourth course and distance victory in 55.85s to comfortably defeat luckless Colourful King (124lb) by three lengths in 55.85s. Group 1 winner Invincible Sage (129lb) was third.

Atzeni said: “He was carrying a light weight and it was all about the start. Once he pinged up the gates and linked up with the horses on my outside, I knew I could get to the rail and once I managed to get to the fence, he travelled comfortably.

“I tried to hang onto him for as long as a could and when I let him down, he picked up good and when I looked up at the (big) screen, I couldn’t believe how far clear I was. I thought it was a good performance.”

Colourful King could not get clear until too late, steaming over the final 400m sectional in a race-best 22.05s.

Size also struck in partnership with Brenton Avdulla when Sight Hermoso (135lb) charged to victory in the Class 4 Tsam Chuk Wan Handicap (1000m).

Sagacious Life (130lb) underlined his rich potential ahead of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series with a strong win in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Leighton Handicap (1600m) for Pierre Ng and Zac Purton.

Jumping smartly from gate three, the Brazilian import settled fourth behind fellow South American Winfield before angling out approaching the home straight and sprinting sharply to defeat Soleil Fighter (129lb) by three-quarters of a length in 1m 34.09s. Fellow Four-Year-Old Classic Series aspirant Top Dragon (121lb) was third.

The authority of the victory prompted Ng to outline plans to head directly to the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February – the first of the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which also includes the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March.

“Straight to the Classic Mile – that’s our plan,” Ng said. “He’s got the rating (90) already. We tried to put as light a pressure on him as possible and he handled it brilliantly. We’ve got pressure off our back and look forward to the next one.

“He’s got very good form and you always trust the rating – he still needs to be a little bit mature. When he’s parading, he’s still looking around and a bit toey. If we get that out of him, he’ll be much nicer.”

Purton was also effusive in his praise of the Put It Back gelding.

“It was a really good effort for a young horse to carry a big weight in that case. Of course, he was in the right spot, had the right run, but he still had to get the job done,” he said.

Mark Newnham extended his lead at the top of the trainers’ championship when Supreme Sea (128lb) debuted successfully in the second section of Class 4 Tai Mong Tsai Handicap (1200m, dirt) under Lyle Hewitson.

A three-year-old by Sebring Sun, Supreme Sea was trained in Australia by Steve Hodge, who also prepared Newnham’s stable star My Wish before the subsequent winner of last season’s Hong Kong Classic Mile was exported to Hong Kong.

With 28 victories for the term, Newnham leads Caspar Fownes (27), Danny Shum (25) and David Hayes (24) after 34 meetings.

Hayes scored with Positive Smile (123lb) under a facile Keith Yeung ride in the Class 4 Po Leung Kuk Cup Handicap (1400m) before Loyal Bright (128lb) claimed a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million for victory in the Class 3 Pak Tam Chung Handicap (1200m) for Frankie Lor and Derek Leung.

Maxime Guyon continued an impressive short-term stint with a double, scoring on Ricky Yiu’s The Concentration (122lb) in the Class 5 Tai Lam Handicap (1400m) and Francis Lui’s Gallant Epoch (127lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Broadwood Handicap (1400m).

“It’s been amazing, I start really well this year,” Guyon said after posting his ninth win from 65 mounts. “This horse (Gallant Epoch) ran well last start when he was second and, today, he was favourite and we could go to the front – not too fast – and he kicked again and was strong.”

Yiu and Purton completed doubles when Victory Sky swept to victory in the Class 3 Tai Tong Shan Handicap (1200m, dirt).

Tony Cruz and Angus Chung combined with Bright Mortar (121lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Tai Mong Tsai Handicap (1200m, dirt) before Lovero (121lb) claimed his first Sha Tin success by landing the Class 3 Tai Tong Handicap (1600m) for Brett Crawford and Harry Bentley.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (7 January).