Thriving in the absence of Ka Ying Rising, Helios Express was rewarded for a season of remarkable consistency with deserved victory in the HK$4.2 million G3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m) as John Size edged closer to a 13th Hong Kong trainers’ championship at Sha Tin on Saturday (31 May).

Runner-up five times and third on two other occasions to Ka Ying Rising in seven starts this campaign, Helios Express (123lb) scrambled to a short-head margin over Invincible Sage (115lb) with Patch Of Theta (115lb) one and three-quarter lengths away in third.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Helios Express sat at the tail of the 11-horse field behind leaders Magic Control (115lb) and Beauty Waves (115lb) before fanning widest in the straight and engaging Invincible Sage – who won the 2024 G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) under Bowman – in a thrilling battle.

Clocking 22.01s for the final 400m, Helios Express eventually prevailed to Bowman’s clear relief in a time of 1m 08.14s.

“Only just,” Bowman said of the winning margin. “I’ve had a lot to do with the second horse, Invincible Sage, and they both got the soft track conditions which suited both horses and you’ve seen them both run to their premium.

“He (Helios Express) thoroughly deserved it. He’s been chasing the ‘champ’ (Ka Ying Rising) all season and with his absence, he was the number one seed and he came out in front.”

The winner of six of his first nine starts in Hong Kong, including victories in the 2024 HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1600m) and HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), Helios Express had not won in eight subsequent starts, repeatedly foiled by the world’s highest-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising.

“He (Helios Express) certainly deserves this win, he’s tried very hard this season to win a decent race and finally he got it done,” Size said. “He found a race that was suitable for him.”

Pointing to the presence of 129-rater Lucky Sweynesse (135lb), who finished a brave fourth under Derek Leung, and the fact Helios Express received 12lb from the four-time Group 1 winner, Size said: “This what handicaps are all about. The race was always going to be a matter of handicap. If the topweight gets you into the middle range of the race, well that’s always a bonus.”

Size finished the day with a double, taking his 2024/25 tally to 60 with a seven-win buffer over David Hayes (53) with 12 meetings left in the season.

Size also struck with Masterofmyuniverse (135lb) as the talented gelding made it two wins a row with a slender victory in the Class 3 Tai Wai Handicap (1200m) over Infinite Resolve (126lb). Ridden by Zac Purton, Masterofmyuniverse speared through a narrow gap before denying Infinite Resolve by a nose to claim his fourth win from nine starts.

Hayes scored with Lucky Man in the Class 5 Shing Mun River Channel Handicap (1400m) under Bowman before apprentice Ellis Wong posted his fifth win of the month when Danny Shum’s Matters Most careered away in the second section of the Class 4 Sha Tin Hoi Handicap (1200m).

Luke Ferraris predicted a bright future for Dazzling Fit after David Eustace’s emerging talent landed the Class 4 Tin Sam Handicap (1400m).

“He’s a lovely horse, he oozes ability and talent. He’s just doing a couple of things wrong, but we forget he’s only a three-year-old, so time and racing will bring him on,” Ferraris said. “His manners behind the gates could probably improve a bit more, but he’s just a young, playful horse.

“Definitely the penny is starting to drop with him but it hasn’t hit the bottom yet – it’s pretty exciting for next season.”

Ferraris sealed a double aboard Tourbillon Prince in the Class 3 Ma Liu Shui Handicap (1600m) for Benno Yung.

David Hall-trained Ka Ying Attack posted his third win from only six starts with a brilliant front-running display under Matthew Poon in the Class 3 Fo Tan Handicap (1400m) after Derek Leung steered Lucky My Way to victory with a clever ride in the first section of the Class 4 Sha Tin Hoi Handicap (1200m) for Manfred Man. Travelling strongly behind a wall of runners, Leung angled the Proisir three-year-old into clear at the 300m before sprinting away for a two-length win.

Mark Newnham’s New Forest led throughout under Lyle Hewitson to land the Class 4 Pai Tau Handicap (1650, dirt) and the pair combined later with Talents Ambition in the Class 2 Penfold Park Handicap (1650m, dirt).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (4 June).