Entries for the first leg of the 4YO Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile, set to run on Sunday, 4 February, were announced on Monday afternoon.
Heading the ratings are trainer John Size’s duo, Helios Express (102), and Howdeepisyourlove (98), with the former sure to be set off as a short-priced favourite in the same-age set weights event after his explosive last-start win over the mile.
Super win! 🚀
Star #4YOSeries prospect Helios Express dazzled on Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin with his fourth victory from six starts for trainer John Size…@HugeBowman | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/wK3snLidcT
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 8, 2024
On the other hand, Howdeepisyourlove may have lost admirers over the weekend after a moderate sixth-place finish in the Class 2 race over 1400m, taken out by Mugen.
Check out this for a ride! 🤯
ICYMI: @KarisTeetan was at his brilliant best aboard Mugen at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon… 🪄 #HKracing pic.twitter.com/mEKnmzxcDE
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 22, 2024
Next in line on ratings are Helene Feeling (95) and Chill Chibi (86) for trainer Danny Shum, who will also saddle up the improving Moments In Time (82). While Helene Feeling has raced at Sha Tin before and boasts a track and distance win, Chill Chibi has raced solely around the city circuit of Happy Valley but has looked every bit a horse on the rise and is still very much untapped.
How good could he be?! 🌟
2024 #4YOSeries prospect Chill Chibi is shooting for a fifth straight win on Wednesday evening at Happy Valley with @JerryChau15… #HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/OAaYVMlSrW
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 18, 2023
Chill Chibi lost no admirers, checking in a solid third to the in-form Happy Together the last time he raced when chasing a fifth straight win, but the form has been solid. Happy Together went on to claim the G3 January Cup subsequently, with Helene Feeling 1.5 lengths behind in third.
Legendary Tony Cruz has five entries, but the ones that stand out are Beauty Crescent (80) and Fallon (74). Beauty Crescent remains a Hong Kong maiden after 10 starts but has six placings to his name, with one of those being a luckless last-start defeat into second to outsider Amazing Duck when he was held up over the concluding stages.
Never give up! 💪
Amazing Duck leads throughout at odds of 46/1 in the finale for Matthew Poon and Jimmy Ting… #HKracing pic.twitter.com/f3SXpLEIcV
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 13, 2024
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Fallon holds up among his peers after stringing together spine-tingling wins over the mile—the first at the top of Class 4 before winning a Class 3 restricted to four-year-olds.
Another HUGE performance by Fallon on Saturday! 🤯
How will Tony Cruz's youngster fare in the upcoming #4YOSeries!? #HKracing pic.twitter.com/QXipwK3sgv
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 14, 2024
Overseas bookmakers have opened up an all-in market for the Classic Mile, and to get a feel for the race, it looks like this…
