"Best supporting horse" Helios Express gets chance to shine

By Jack Dawling 

If there was an award for best supporting actor in Hong Kong racing, Helios Express would already have his name etched onto the trophy for the 2024-25 season.

Last year’s Classic Mile and Classic Cup winner has thrived in top-level sprints this term, but unfortunately for his trainer John Size and owner Andy Yung Ming-tai, he has become accustomed to filling the placings behind the world’s highest-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising.

Of Helios Express’ seven runs this term, he has finished second five times and third on the other two occasions. The common denominator? David Hayes’ sprinting star won all seven of those races.

But, for the first time this season, Helios Express has his chance to wage war on the Sha Tin turf without Ka Ying Rising standing in his way when he contests Saturday’s G3 Sha Tin Vase (1,200 meters).

Ahead of the handicap, in which Helios Express carries 123 pounds, Size is hopeful the five-year-old can continue his consistent form despite a relatively long season.

“He seems in good shape ahead of Saturday,” Size told The Standard. “I know he’s had quite a few races this year but he looks OK at home. 

“You can never be too sure of what they are going to do at the end of the season but I think he’s held his form - we’ll see on Saturday.”

Helios Express stormed to a dominant win in last year’s Classic Mile before powering onto Classic Cup victory over 1,800m on his next start. 

While he started favorite in his bid to win all three legs of the four-year-old series on his final start of the campaign in the Hong Kong Derby, Helios Express failed to see out 2,000m and prompted Size to bring him back in distance.

Hugh Bowman will continue his association with Helios Express when the pair jump from gate (11) in Saturday’s 11-runner contest, which includes the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained Lucky Sweynesse off top weight of 135 pounds.

Size will also be looking to celebrate success in the meeting’s other Group 3 contest, the Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m), when he saddles two Group 1-winning gallopers.

While Beauty Eternal has failed to recapture the form that saw him claim the G1 Champions Mile last season, stablemate Red Lion will be hoping to kick on after his shock win over Voyage Bubble in this year’s renewal of the race.

“His preparation hasn’t been any different to every other race and he came out of his win well,” Size said of the 118-rated galloper.