Cover image courtesy of the HKJC
Hong Kong
Helios Express reigns supreme in The Classic Mile
Rising star Helios Express looks destined for further success in top company after the Toronado (Ire) gelding made Sunday’s G1 The Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin a one-act affair.
The John Size-trained 4-year-old improved his record to six wins from seven starts when scoring a 1.75l victory in the HK$13 million (AU$2,553,800) contest under Australian jockey Hugh Bowman.
“I’m excited to be riding such a magnificent individual,” Bowman said.
“I’m excited to be riding such a magnificent individual (Helios Express).” - Hugh Bowman
“The race set up very well for him over 1600 metres with a small field. I was delighted with barrier six and everything panned out very well.
“The critical side of me says I would have liked for him to settle a bit better, but it was a very sedate tempo which encouraged him to travel the way he did, and that’s the sign of an exceptional horse. When I gave him room and asked him for an effort, that’s exactly what we all saw.”
Size, who lifted the Classic Mile trophy for the fourth time, was effusive in his praise of Helios Express, who commenced his career with a Benalla maiden win on debut for trainer Jamie Edwards when named Tex Mex.
“It’s always very exciting and a bit of a relief actually, to have another good horse come along,” Size said.
“Of this generation of horses, he seems to be the quality horse among the ones he’s competing against.
“Of this generation of horses, he (Helios Express) seems to be the quality horse among the ones he’s competing against.” - John Size
“It was a very convincing win.”
Helios Express was bred by Australian Chris Wells, before being purchased by Edwards’ Emsley Lodge for just $10,000 at the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale in 2020.
He is the first foal from Paris Texas (Hinchinbrook) - a three-time winner in Western Australia.
Sadly, the mare died in 2021, but not before throwing a sister to Helios Express. The unraced 3-year-old filly has been named Isolation Ridge and is with Lindsey Smith at Linton.
Toronado is enjoying a great season in Hong Kong, and with six individual winners, eight wins and HK$26,644,330 (AU$5,237,800), he sits third in the sires’ premiership.
Karaka graduate takes Centenary Vase
Sacred Falls (NZ) gelding Nimble Nimbus (NZ) broke through for his maiden feature-race victory in Sunday’s G3 The Centenary Vase at Sha Tin.
The Ricky Yiu-trained 6-year-old prevailed by 0.2l under Andrea Atzeni.
Nimble Nimbus was offered by his breeder - Waikato Stud - at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1). He was knocked down to Yiu for NZ$100,000.
The gelding is out of the winning Pins mare Marahau (NZ) and she herself is a sister to the Listed victress Shandream (NZ) (Pins) and a half-sister to the stakes performer Doubly Sure (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Japan
Epiphaneia colt notches Grade 3 win at Kyoto
The Tomoyasu Sakaguchi-trained Byzantine Dream (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) held a nose margin on the line in Sunday’s G3 Kisaragi Sho at Kyoto.
Byzantine Dream became his sire’s 16th individual stakes winner and handed the son of Symboli Kris S (USA) a 24th stakes success.
Unbeaten in two starts, the 3-year-old is from the winning Jungle Pocket (Jpn) mare Japoni Chara (Jpn).
Byzantine Dream is closely related to Fusaichi Richard (Jpn) - a multiple Listed winner and Japan’s Champion 2YO Colt in 2005.
