Revered Hong Kong trainer John Size will attempt to fill a rare gap in a bulging career portfolio when the master horseman saddles Howdeepisyourlove in the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Saturday.
John Size oversees Howdeepisyourlove’s work at Meydan Racecourse (Pic – HKJC)
With an unmatched 12 Hong Kong trainers’ championships in his keeping, Size continues to search for his first overseas success since being based at Sha Tin, having previously saddled 10 starters in Japan and three in the United Arab Emirates.
The wily Australian’s best result came with Armada’s second placing in the 2008 Gr1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo and Size is hopeful Howdeepisyourlove’s recent Group 1 form behind star sprinter Ka Ying Rising will lead to breakthrough success in the Al Quoz after drawing barrier nine in a field of 11.
“The barrier seems okay, he should be able to get a clear run from there. He’s not involved in the inside, so the horse gets back in the field a little bit and hopefully he’s a late finisher and that should probably suit him,” Size said.
“The horse is in pretty good shape and he’s travelled well. He looks good and he’s done his work properly. He continues to do well, so I think the race is coming up at the right time and it’s a matter of circumstances on the day.
“He seems very well, he’s been in pretty good order since he’s been in Dubai. He’s enjoying the fresh, crispy mornings and the hot afternoons. He seems to be adapting quite well. He’s eating his food and doing his work and he seems quite relaxed in this environment.
“He tends to wait for the last run, he likes to be ridden quietly early and get into his rhythm and get into his gear and then he normally finishes strongly. So, he’s only got a short dash but if he’s timed, he might be in front at the line.”
“I would love to win a race overseas. We just keep trying.”
Howdeepisyourlove faces 10 rivals in the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint (Pic – HKJC)
Howdeepisyourlove has finished third at his past two starts to Ka Ying Rising – in the Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cupon 19 January and the Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on 23 February – and Size hopes the Deep Field gelding can produce a stable breakthrough in the Al Quoz Sprint under James McDonald.
Size previously saddled Amazing Kids, who finished sixth to The Right Man in the Al Quoz Sprint in 2017 and Sight Success, who was fourth to Danyah in 2023 and fifth last year to California Spangle, who broke the Meydan 1200m track record, clocking 1m 07.50s, for Tony Cruz and Brenton Avdulla.
Romantic Warrior cruises around Meydan during training (Pic – HKJC)
Romantic Warrior strode two laps of Meydan’s dirt course with Romantic Charm on Thursday as he prepares to face last year’s winner Facteur Cheval in the Gr1 Dubai Turf along with fellow Group 1 winners Nations Pride, Soul Rush, Brede Weg and Liberty Island.
Chasing his 19th win at his 25th start, Romantic Warrior will bid for a record Hong Kong 11th Group 1 victory from barrier nine of 11 starters under McDonald.
The Hong Kong International Sale graduate is seeking his second win in Dubai after he broke Meydan’s track record with a gallop of 1m 45.10s in the Gr1 Jebel Hatta on 24 January.
Freshened since narrow defeat to Forever Young in the Gr1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh on 22 February, Romantic Warrior will attempt to add to world record prizemoney of HK$206.9 million.
Frankie Lor’s Sword Point is the third of Hong Kong’s Dubai World Cup night entrants and will start from barrier 2 in the Gr2 Godolphin Mile. He will also be ridden by McDonald.
