Champion trainer John Size secured his first Happy Valley wins of the season with a double on Wednesday night (17 December), delivering a timely boost to his prospects of defending his trainers’ championship title.

The Australian Hall of Fame handler moved to 10 wins for the season courtesy of a late double, with Andrea Atzeni scoring aboard Amazing Kid (117lb), who won the third section of the Class 4 Albatross Handicap (1200m), and consistent galloper A Americ Te Specso (127lb), who took out the card-closing Class 3 Sea Eagle Handicap (1650m) under James McDonald.

Four-year-old Amazing Kid surged along the rail in the final 200 metres, delivering a narrow win over Meowth (133lb) and Run Run Smart (130lb) by a head and a neck, respectively.

The 13-time champion Size was thrilled to finally get a tune out of the Exceed And Excel gelding.

“That’s the sort of run you hope to get,” Size said. “We drew the one (gate) and had a light weight. He’s been a bit of a slow learner, but he seemed to hit the line with determination tonight.

“Andrea was pretty vigorous on him and made him run the final bit. Everything worked out really well for him. I think tonight was his night,” he added.

A Americ Te Specso has been a reliable ally to Size throughout their four years together and, as is his wont, the son of Per Incanto finished charging through the line under the newly crowned LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, McDonald, to complete the double for Size.

Size wasn’t the only trainer to celebrate a double; Me Tsui moved on to nine wins for the season, taking him halfway to last season’s tally.

Macanese Master (115lb) outlasted Island Breezes (135lb) and Oriental Surprise (129lb) in the Class 5 Robin Handicap (1000m) to grab his first win in Hong Kong from the foot of the weights under apprentice Angus Chung, whose two-pound claim came in handy in a close finish.

Visiting rider Maxime Guyon followed up his superb effort in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) with Sosie last weekend to claim a second win of his stint on Tsui’s Candlelight Dinner (119lb) in the Class 3 Nightjar Handicap (1000m). That second winner for Tsui saw owners Mr & Mrs Cheng Chak Yin pick up a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus.

Hugh Bowman and McDonald shared jockey honours with two wins apiece.

Star Brose (133lb) claimed a maiden win in the opener, the Class 5 Heron Handicap (2200m), under a superb steer from Bowman for trainer David Hayes. The victory took Hayes to 21 wins for the season.

“I have to say, it was a 10/10 Hugh Bowman ride. He followed Zac and got him right on the line,” Hayes said.

Bowman brought up the double with victory on California Moxie (125lb) in the Class 4 Lark Handicap (1650m) for Tony Cruz.

The Chris So-trained Perfectday (135lb) swooped in the second section of the Class 4 Albatross Handicap (1200m) to continue his winning form from last term, and seal the double for McDonald.
The win was a pleasant surprise for So, who registered his 10th win of the campaign with the effort.

“I wasn’t confident because of the draw and first time at Happy Valley, but the horse was very impressive,” So said.

Richard Kingscote snared his third winner of the season on 40/1 shot Flash Star (117lb), whose fractious showing ahead of the race made the win all the more impressive. The son of Charm Spirit put pre-race nerves behind him to dash up the inside rail and claim a surprise win in the feature Class 4 The Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup Handicap (1200m).

“It’s fair to say (the win was unexpected). A couple of times, he’s run OK, and I’ve thought, one day, if it all goes right, he could do OK,” Kingscote said. “But he’s not the easiest. We’ve put a lot of work into him, and today we had a smooth trip.”

Kingscote’s other two wins this term have been delivered on a 20/1 chance (Loch Tay) and a 97/1 hopeful (Blue Illusion), but he was sanguine about the competition for rides in Hong Kong.

“I’m getting a bit of support. It’s very competitive and I don’t expect to be coming here and landing on odds-on shots. But it’s nice to get a few winners,” he added.

Young Bravo (127lb) delivered one of the most popular wins of the evening in the Class 4 Swiftlet Handicap (1800m) under James Orman for trainer David Hall and ownership group The HKJC Racing Club Limited, who roared the four-year-old home at 30/1. The All Too Hard gelding broke his maiden at the fourth time of asking.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday (20 December).