Only Lucky Sweynesse, Beauty Eternal and Victor The Winner have won more Sha Tin races this season than Erimo, and none of those gallopers has shown more durability or versatility than John Size’s runner in Sunday’s Class Two Lek Yuen Handicap (1,400m).
Erimo, this term triumphant on Sha Tin’s turf track over 1,400m twice and victorious on the New Territories venue’s all-weather circuit over 1,650m and 1,800m, will compete for the 15th time in his non-stop campaign in this weekend’s top-graded event.
In such fine form is Erimo that the five-year-old Street Boss gelding has a live chance of registering his third 1,400m win this season and joining Victor The Winner on five Sha Tin successes this term even though he will race on an eight-day backup again.
While punters will support the likes of Flaming Rabbit and Amazing Victory, the minor placegetters in the Class Two contest over 1,600m that Tuchel won four weeks ago, Galaxy Witness, who almost overtook Erimo for second place over 1,400m at this level three weeks back, and resuming course-and-distance specialist Beauty Live, the latter is the only galloper other than Erimo with a 2023 victory to his credit.
Erimo’s excellent recent run of two wins and two runner-up results has coincided with two things: Alexis Badel jumping aboard the galloper who has overcome juvenile tendinitis in both of his front legs to earn HK$6,760,700 in prize money, and the Edmond Siu Kim-ping-owned horse racing closer to the pace.
Size can take the credit for pairing Erimo with Badel because he booked the French jockey to replace Luke Currie after the Australian pilot’s eighth-placed ride at Sha Tin on April 15 drew the ire of Jockey Club stewards, who reprimanded him for crowding.
However, according to Size – odds on to become the first trainer to win 12 Hong Kong championships when this 88-meeting season concludes on July 16 – Erimo reverting to racing near the speed probably has more to do with the galloper than any human intervention.
“He might be a bit more interested. He’s keener,” Size said of Erimo, who won two of his opening three starts this term after settling in the first four. “Sometimes, they’ll race on pace if they feel well.”
Size leads his former assistant, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, by eight victories with nine meetings remaining this term. It is as good as a nine-win advantage because the 68-year-old Australian handler has saddled 19 more runners-up than the 57-year-old local conditioner.
Nine Size-prepared gallopers will represent the 11-time Hong Kong champion trainer at Sha Tin on Sunday, with Pins Prince, Speedy Fortune, Diamond Winner, Hit The Shot, Simple Hedge, Elon, Bundle Of Charm and Beauty Inspire accompanying Erimo to the races.
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Badel will ride four of Size’s nine weekend runners, with the French jockey steering not only Erimo but also Pins Prince, Elon and Bundle Of Charm, the latter of whom won his last start by a length from one of Wednesday’s most impressive victors, Dancing Code.
Lor’s Sha Tin squad of eight comprises Super Highway, Huge Win, Looking Cool, Superbella, Beauty Live, Sauvestre, Everyone’s Victory and Massive Action.
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