Tag: Star Mac

Size Runners Dominate Market For Hong Kong Classic Cup

Trainer John Size has won the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the second leg of the 4-year-old Triple Crown, no fewer than four times and he'll saddle two of the top fancies as he looks for his first victory in the race since Sun Jewellery (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) in 2011 Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) is the lone member of the 14-strong field rated in triple figures (102), has won six of his eight lifetime starts and three of his last four. Drawn neatly in gate two Sunday, the bay was impressive in defeating Class 2 rivals over a mile Jan. 7 and backed up the performance with a 1 3/4-length defeat of Helene Feeling (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and a running-on Star Mac (Aus) (Heroic Valour {Aus}) in a slowly run renewal of the Hong Kong Classic Mile four weeks back. The 1800 metres of Sunday's test is as far as he's been, and he'll need to switch off better if he is to see it out, his connections admit.

Size said: “We're trying to adapt to a distance and to a tempo, which always is an issue for the jockeys who manage the horse through the race, so it depends on the circumstances on the day and what sections they run during the race. So far, he's been okay.”

Size's second entry, Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid), will look to become the first US-bred to take the Classic Cup since Zaidan (Street Cry {Ire}) back in 2012. Placed twice from three overseas runs for James Fanshawe, the bay gelding broke his maiden on local debut over 1800 metres last October and–equally unusually–already owns two victories over the BMW Hong Kong Derby trip of 2000 metres. A horse that grinds it out, he just missed in Class 2 over the metric 10 furlongs, but tries restricted company for the first time in Hong Kong.

“He's been quite unusual the way he came into Hong Kong and won immediately at a distance, that doesn't happen too often so he's sort of stamped himself as one who has adapted to Hong Kong quite quickly,” Size said. “[Being] just a little bit one-paced is probably the chink in his armour, he just doesn't have enough acceleration. But, with that, as long as he's running in a forward position and running freely, that's okay.”

Two other American-breds are rough chances, Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) and Unbelievable (Justify).

Chill Chibi (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) posted four straight wins over the course of last season and this season at Happy Valley before having the streak snapped by subsequent G3 January Cup H. hero Happy Together (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) Dec. 20. Having missed the Classic Mile via a minor setback, he makes his Sha Tin debut Sunday.

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Helios Express Makes Light Work Of Hong Kong Classic Mile

Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) was crunched into $1.30 (3-10) favourtism for Sunday's HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, sat a perfect trip beneath Hugh Bowman and raced away late to take the first leg of the 4-year-old series in convincing fashion Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin.

Alertly away from barrier six and carrying the number one saddlecloth signifying the highest-rated runner in the event, the John Size trainee allowed Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) and Helene Feeling (Ire) (Sioux Nation) do the heavy lifting and settled in the ideal spot while a fraction keen through the early exchanges. Poised to strike nearing the entrance to the straight, Helios Express eased out into the three path to deliver his challenge, gathered up Helene Feeling–who had taken over from Chancheng Glory just outside the 200 metres–and kicked home a comfortable winner. Star Mac (Aus) (Heroic Valour {Aus}), rated some 38 points inferior to the winner on 64, ran home gamely for third ahead of a troubled Speed Dragon (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).

“It was a slow-run race and he was able to adapt to a very slow tempo, which is a good thing in a racehorse,” said Size. “He was able to overcome that and still win the race. Of this generation of horses, he seems to be the quality horse amongst the ones he's competing against, and it was a very convincing win.”

Size confirmed that Helios Express would move on to the second leg of the series, the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres Mar. 3 and believes his charge will handle the step up in trip without issue.

“There's always some concern because the circumstances of the races can change dramatically from one race to the next,” said Size. “The good horses overcome a different style of running and they win. He has to do that–he has that in front of him.”

For his part, Bowman–who now begins a five-meeting suspension–considers Helios Express an unfinished product.

“The critical side of me says I would have liked for him to settle a bit better in the run, but it was a very sedate tempo which encouraged him to travel the way he did–but that's the sign of an exceptional horse–and when I gave him room and asked him for an effort, that's exactly what we all saw. I'm excited to be riding such a magnificent individual,” Bowman said.

 

Pedigree Notes:

Helios Express was providing his sire with yet another big result in Hong Kong a week after Victor the Winner (Aus) caused an upset in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup. One of 18 winners in the jurisdiction for the stallion, Helios Express–who was victorious in a single Australian appearance for trainer Jamie Edwards at Benalla in Victoria while racing as Tex Mex (Aus)–is a third to succeed at stakes level (Senor Toba {Aus}). Helios Express is the fourth black-type winner produced by a daughter of Hinchinbrook (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

Paris Texas passed away in September 2021 according to the Australian Stud Book, but has left behind Helios Express's unraced 3-year-old full-sister Isolation Ridge (Aus), who is in training with Lindsey Smith at Linton in Victoria.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE-LR, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-4, NH/SH4yo, 1600mT, 1:34.44, gd.
1–HELIOS EXPRESS (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Toronado (Ire)
1st Dam: Paris Texas (Aus), by Hinchinbrook (Aus)
2nd Dam: Hialeah Star (Aus), by Luskin Star (Aus)
3rd Dam: Hialeah Gold (Aus), by Sovereign Red (NZ)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Andy Yung Ming Tai; B-C Wells (WA); T-John Size; J-Hugh Bowman. Lifetime Record: 8-6-1-1, HK$16,001,660. *Formerly Tex Mex (Aus).
2–Helene Feeling (Ire), 126, g, 4, Sioux Nation–Cynthia Calhoun (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (€15,500 Wlg '20 GOFDEC; 40,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Helene Syndicate; B-A Sherwood & P Connell; T-Danny Shum; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,730,000.
3–Star Mac (Aus), 126, g, 4, Heroic Valour (Aus)–Marma Got Style (Aus), by Wicked Style. (A$15,000 Ylg '21 MMMAR). O-Adrian Hassan; B-D Reynolds (Qld); T-David Hayes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$1,495,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 3-10, 73-10, 45-1.
Also Ran: Speed Dragon (NZ), Beauty Crescent (Ire), Chancheng Glory, Fallon (Ire), Howdeepisyourlove (Aus), Moments In Time (Chi). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing.

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