By Alan Carasso
One of the best trainers in Hong Kong history, John Size is a three-time winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile, a 1600-metre event that serves as the first of the three legs of the Classics series restricted to 4-year-olds from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The 12-times champion conditioner, who is approaching 1500 career victories, has two bonafide chances to add a fourth Classic Mile Sunday in the form of Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}).
Helios Express is the lone member of the nine-horse field rated north of 100, and he has earned it with four wins from his six starts dating back to last June, including a powerful 2 3/4-length victory in a Class 2 over Sunday's distance Jan. 7. That effort has stamped him as the $1.40 (2-5) jolly overnight and Hugh Bowman has the call before beginning a suspension.
“He made the adaption to 1600 (metres) more or less straight away, he seemed to travel not too bad,” the always matter-of-fact Size said of his latest effort. “He was a little bit strong, I guess, but still managed it in a slow-run race and he sprinted well off a slow speed, that's about all we expected from him.
“I don't think he's taken harm from the race. He seems to have coped with that pretty well. His trial was normal and he looks like he's going to run a race again.”
One to beat in the Hong Kong Classic Mile!? 🤔 Helios Express is back in action this Sunday… 🚀
📍 Sha Tin, 4 Feb | #4YOSeries | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/XigLtF0VWu
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 30, 2024
James McDonald is due to partner with Howdeepisyourlove, but suffered a foot injury before Saturday's G3 Widden S. at Rosehill and will be subject to an exam by the HKJC's chief medical officer upon his arrival. The gelding has four wins to his credit, all over the 1200-metre distance and each at Happy Valley, and he'll need to lift here to make his presence felt.
There are 34 stakes races held each season in Hong Kong, and the Classic Mile is the only one to have thus far eluded champion jockey Zac Purton. He takes the reins on Helene Feeling (Ire) (Sioux Nation) for Danny Shum and actually exits a try at group level when he was third as the favourite in the G3 January Cup H. at the city circuit Jan. 10. Winner of four from 10 in Hong Kong, he raced in England as Indian Dream and was a two-time scorer in the lower grades while under the care of Michael Bell.
Beauty Crescent (Ire), whose sire Acclamation (GB) was responsible for 2022 Classic Mile and now multiple Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior (Ire), won the Listed Blenheim S. in 2022 while under the care of Ger Lyons, and though he may not quite be up to winning this, can contend for a minor award. He exits a pair of luckless runs in Class 3 over 1400 metres and attacked the line on both occasions. Andrea Atzeni rides for the legendary Tony Cruz.
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