Size rates two-time Classic Series silver medallist Tuchel’s win as his best run
John Size rated Tuchel’s winning performance in the Class Two Para Sports Coach Handicap (1,600m) at Sha Tin yesterday as the best run of his career that has included a couple of Classic Series silver medals.
Carrying 134 pounds and chasing much lighter-weighted Flaming Rabbit, who bounded away from the rest of the field at the halfway mark, Tuchel caught the leader in the shadows of the past to score by a neck.
“It was a good horse’s win,” said Size of Tuchel, who finished fourth in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1,800m) between seconds in both the Classic Mile and the Derby (2,000m).
“He had to contend with a heavy weight and a runaway leader. It was a good test.
“I wasn’t concerned when Lyle Hewitson established a gap on Flaming Rabbit that far out. With about 75m to go, I was worried, but he got up.
“That’s his highest rating, and it’s come at a mile.”
Tuchel, whose record reads five wins from 13 starts and more than HK$15 million in prize money, was the second leg of doubles for both Size and jockey Zac Purton.
Yeung’s comeback winner hard to Find
Keith Yeung Ming-lun’s ninth ride since coming back from injuries sustained in a nasty race fall at Sha Tin on March 26 produced a shock win for the popular jockey aboard $69 roughie Find My Love.
Find My Love was the rank outsider of the Class Three Para Sports Volunteer Handicap (1,400m) field, but Yeung’s unfancied mount from Manfred Man Ka-leung’s yard did not know his odds and prevailed by a neck from the well-backed $3.5 favourite, Taj Dragon.
“On the C+3, and starting from barrier 10, I wasn’t expecting that. It was a surprise win,” Yeung said.
“It’s nice to come back with a winner, but I’m lucky. I’ve always been lucky in my career. I’m blessed.”
Sharp Teetan anything but Lucky
Karis Teetan had to think on his feet in the Class Three Badminton Handicap (1,200m), but he made the correct call to lead on Lucky Encounter after the expected pacesetter, O’Liner, was a late withdrawal.
“He’s not really a leader,” said Lucky Encounter’s trainer, David Hayes. “When the leader got scratched, Karis had to make a decision quickly.
“I was very worried at the 600m because he was a sitting shot. When John Size’s horse cruised up to him, I thought we could be in trouble, but our horse showed a great fighting heart to win.
“We’ll probably give him one more race this season to get his rating up a little bit for next season.
“We really think he’s going to be a better horse over 1,400m to a mile, but we’ll see that next year.”
Dee arriving off Group One victory
Incoming jockey Michael Dee upgraded his impressive resume at Morphettville on Saturday, taking out South Australia’s most prestigious race, The Goodwood, to travel to Hong Kong as an 11-time Group One winner.
Dee, whose short stint as a member of Hong Kong’s riding ranks begins this week – the Jockey Club has licensed him from Wednesday night’s meeting at Happy Valley to the July 9 twilight programme at Sha Tin – steered Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly Royal Merchant to win the top-level sprint over 1,200m by a neck from Another Award.
An $18 roughie, Royal Merchant jumped from gate 14 in the 16-runner field and travelled three wide without cover close to the speed.
However, with only 115 pounds on her back, including Dee, whom Australian punters love for outperforming the market in their country’s major events, the three-yearold speedster galloped strongly through the line to add a Group One triumph to her last-start success in Group Two grade.
Newnham saddles final Aussie runner
Another Hong Kong-bound participant, Mark Newnham, saddled his final runner in Australia on Saturday when he sent out Street Gossip to contest the Group Three Pam O’Neill Stakes (1,600m) at Doomben.
Unlike Wednesday, when Warwick Farm winner Lavish Empire ensured Newnham enjoyed a fairy-tale farewell to New South Wales racing, Street Gossip finished sixth in Saturday’s black-type race in Queensland.
Newnham, winding up his Randwick stable ahead of swapping Sydney for Sha Tin, trained more than 400 winners across Australia, including four Group One victors, between starting out in 2016 and now.
Shadow Hero won two elite-level contests for Newnham – the 2019 Spring Champion Stakes (2,000m) and the 2020 Randwick Guineas (1,600m), but Timeform ranks his best galloper as 2021 Group Three Sydney Stakes (1,200m) winner Big Parade at a rating of 120.