Helios Express will contest the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December but John Size has decided not to up the ante with the progressive sprinter Wunderbar.
The 12-time Hong Kong champion trainer has revealed plans to keep Helios Express in the sprint for at least the next two races after he returned to second place behind Ka Ying Rising in the Group Two Premier Bowl (1200m).
Toronto, making his first start since finishing the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) last March, sprinted from the start and completed the final 200m in 21.74 seconds.
Despite the past of the pasts, despite Classic Miles and Classic Cups (1800m), the Helios Express campaign is a sprinter of two jockey Club (1200m) and Hong Kong Sprints in two months.
“Helios Express and Howdeepisyourlove Sprint will take place on November 17,” he said.
It was a big win. Ka Ying Rising! đź‘Ź
David Hayes’ young talent won his first Group 2 at Sha Tin on Sunday to win the Premier Bowl with @zpurton in a fast closing Helios Express…
“I think the 1200m [Helios Express] will be here to stay . It is the same and may last until the end of the convention.
“He looked good (for the first time), looked good and came back good. He could always lead a section and he did. For the fourth series in a row he was the right age and we had two wins, so we had to go that way. But I don’t think that’s his strong point.
“Premier Bowl No. 7 Helios Express and Howdeepisyourlove will once again take on rising superstar Ka Ying Rising in the Jockey Club Sprint and Hong Kong Sprint.
The four-year-old chose not to target the same two opportunities at Size Wunderbar despite going on a winning streak in his two starts this season. “He’ll probably run over 1,000m on November 9 where he’ll clash with Magic Control,” Siz said of Wunderbar’s target, the Grade 2 finisher Sha Tin. “He doesn’t have many options, but I think we can handle him.”Wonderbar, a remarkable winner in six of seven starts and the only horse to beat Ka Ying Rising, finished second to Nervous Witness in the Black Trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning. “It looks good. He just comes through it well,” said Size Wunderbar after being chased by Zach Purton in the test. Size’s other Longines Hong Kong International Racing (HKIR) prospects, Beauty Eternal and Red Lion, finished first and second in Tuesday’s test.
“It’s been their usual training and they’ve looked good. They’ll both go [in the Jockey Club Mile] on November 17 and I think they’re in really good shape,” Size said. In April, Group 1 Championship Mile winners Eternal Beauty and Red Lion will step up to the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile on International Day following the Jockey Club Mile. They finished 6th and 8th respectively in the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) behind Galaxy Patch, their first notional winner of the Hong Kong Mile. In other HKIR news, Aidan O’Brien and thoroughbred giant Coolmore are considering entering Jan Bruegel in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) after missing out on the Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m).
Flemington’s initial selection for next week was withdrawn on Tuesday after failing to comply with Victoria’s strict veterinary protocols. Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said the unbeaten rider would either target the Vase or return to Ireland. Trainer Chris Waller and his Via Sistina connection are yet to confirm their next target, but Tuesday’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) record winner was considered unlikely to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. A trip to Hong Kong is definitely on her bucket list.
