Size Holds Strong Hand For Hong Kong Classic Mile

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.”

 

 

 

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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Not This Time’s Waitlist Proves Toughest On Tampa Debut

4th-Tampa Bay Downs, $32,000, Msw, 2-3, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.37, fm, neck.
WAITLIST (c, 3, Not This Time–Grandezza, by Scat Daddy) opened his account in highly impressive fashion at first asking going nine furlongs over the Tampa turf course Saturday afternoon. By the sire of recently crowned champion Up to the Mark and sent out by that one's trainer Todd Pletcher, the $240,000 Keeneland September acquisition was void of early speed and settled one from the tail. Asked to improve his position leaving the five-furlong pole by Emisael Jaramillo, the dark bay colt had tacked on to the back of the leading group and raced in about seventh position entering the second turn. Consigned to an overland trip around the bend, Waitlist had no choice but to launch his bid five deep off the final corner. He confronted narrow second favorite and perfect-trip Stop the Press (Uncle Mo)–a $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling trying the grass after three unplaced efforts on the dirt–nearing the midstretch marker, was overtaken for a stride or two with time ticking away and re-rallied to take it by a neck at a starting price of 44-5, double his morning line of 4-1. Breeder David McCarty paid $210,000 for Grandezza at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale and bought her back on a bid of $340,000 at Keeneland September the following year. A maiden winner of better than $134,000 from ages two to four, Grandezza is also represented by a yearling colt by Yoshida (Jpn) and she is due to Audible this season. Waitlist's second dam Tap Mate (Pleasant Tap) is a full-sister to GSW & GISP Tap Day and to Street Mate (Street Cry {Ire}), whose Grade I-winning daughter and $2-million earner Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) sells as part of the Lothenbach Dispersal Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton. Street Mate is also responsible for GSW King Cause (Creative Cause). Sales history: $240,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $18,560. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Centennial Farms; B-David McCarty (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher.

 

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Timberlake Pointing for Rebel

'TDN Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief), winner of last fall's GI Champagne S., could potentially launch his sophomore season in the GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park Feb. 24. The Siena Farm and WinStar Farm colorbearer was last seen finishing a well-beaten fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Nov. 3.

“He's pointing for it,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We've got to see how our works go over the next several weeks, but he's doing well. Hopefully, we can get him there.”

Timberlake worked four furlongs in :48.60 (10/92) at Fair Grounds Saturday.

“The other race in play for him would probably be the (GII) Gotham at Aqueduct (Mar. 2),” Cox said. “He did win up in New York. He won the Champagne there at Aqueduct, so that could be something that is in play as well. We'll see how he performs over the next few weeks breezing.”

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