John Size became only the second trainer to reach 1,400 winners in Hong Kong at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
The 11-time champion trainer followed in the footsteps of the legendary John Moore when Seizing The Moment produced a sparkling late finish to land the first section of the Class Three Kam Tin River Handicap (1,200m).
“That’s good, I’m very happy with my training career,” Size said. “I’m very pleased with that number, it’s very nice. I suppose I better keep working and see if I can win another race.”
Size, who was champion trainer in his first season in Hong Kong in 2001-02, continues to churn out the winners in his 21st year in the city and Seizing The Moment’s victory ensured he remains just one behind Frankie Lor Fu-chuen in his quest for another title.
Having formed a terrific partnership with Joao Moreira down the years, it was fitting that the Magic Man was aboard for this landmark success.
“John certainly deserves all the credit for what he has achieved in Hong Kong,” Moreira said. “He’s such an amazing trainer but not just that – he’s such a great human being. Being the way that he is, he deserves this kind of result.
“I’m very proud of being the one on board his 1,400th winner and the best part of it is that he’s got many more winners to come. He’s got many more years left and I’m sure he’s not just going to sit on 1,400.”
For much of the way it seemed unlikely that Seizing The Moment would bring up Size’s milestone win as he was last turning into the straight before the afterburners came on.
“The horse is a trier,” Moreira said. “I actually thought he was gone at the 600m. I thought we might finish last or second-last but when I got him out of the kickback, he dashed home and showed that he’s a real racehorse. It’s such a pleasure to ride a horse like that – it gives a bit of extra joy.”
Elsewhere on the card, Derek Leung Ka-chun continued his recent winning run with a big-priced double on a rain-soaked night at Happy Valley.
Size leads the Way as Champion’s and Brilliant bring up double for Leung family
Leung headed into the meeting full of confidence after victories at the last two fixtures at Sha Tin and he didn’t have to wait too long for another visit to the winner’s enclosure after taking the opening Class Five Tan Shan River Handicap (2,200m) on Fortune Triple.
Sitting near-last halfway down the back straight, Leung made a big move around the field and was able to sustain the run to win by a neck.
Fortune Triple’s win was his first at the 18th time of asking and he was a welcome winner for trainer Me Tsui Yu-sak.
Tsui is now up to 13 for the season but as five of his victories have come at the lowest level, he still needs eight winners in Class Four or above if he is to avoid receiving a strike for poor performance.
While Tsui may be struggling, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai has already recorded more winners than last season and he provided Leung with the second leg of his double when Island Shine won the first section of the Class Four Shan Pui River Handicap (1,200m).
The six-year-old had been out of form this season after falling on his final start last term but bounced back in some style to win by an easy two lengths.
Yiu had earlier been successful when Nimble Nimbus won by the widest margin of the night in the second section of the Class Four Tai Shing Stream Handicap (1,650m).
The four-year-old has been hugely consistent this season, finishing in the top five in his past eight starts, and he continued the great recent run of jockey Lyle Hewitson when coming home five lengths clear of his nearest rival.
The young South African completed a double when Astrologer saved every yard to win the second section of the Kam Tin River Handicap (1,200m).
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