View Full Version : Best trainer in the world
Posted By: Malcolm Thwaites
Date: 21/12/02, 11:50 p.m.
In their assessment of the Hong Kong Mile, Globeform ( www.globeform.com ) stated that Ivan Allan is one of the world's best trainers.
I would beg to differ - He is the best in the world. Not only can he get a horse cherry ripe on a specific day, he is not afraid to put his money where his mouth is!
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Once i thought he may be the best but i now think theres a couple better ?
i agree...
but he did screw up daliapour :rolleyes:
I guess Malcolm Thwaites would be considered one of the better trainers so he`d clearly know more than me but from what i`ve seen J.Size would be where my money i`d go.
Yes I would be putting my cash down on John Size who has done some remarkable things...not just in Hong Kong but when he was based in Australia.
Apart from Ivan, ( whose letter he published last year in the racebook was a classic) I would put down Bobby Baffert in the United States, Brian Mayfield Smith and Gai Waterhouse in Australia ( though she does have some disclaimers)
Im also a fan of Shiela Laxon ( of Ethereal fame) ...I like the way she spends time riding the horses herself in a nice relaxed environment. Much like John Size but without all the action of HK. :p
Hong Kong screwed up Daliapour, as it does with many horses (and some people):p :p
the mad mafoo
22-12-2002, 10:06
and let's not overlook David Hill...
I only really know HK racing to comment but from what ive seen, and continue to see, is that John Size has taken training to a new level. Of course the test really starts when his stable are all running off top Hcap marks. D.Hayes had great success early but then the handicapper caught up with him. As for ivan alan, without doubt he knows how to prepare for the big races, and probably any race, but i feel hes not too bothered about winning the lower class events any more.
Like Scarper I am not qualifed to talk about trainers in other parts of the world so I'll restrict my comments to HK.
While J Size has been doing exceptionally well, I'll prefer to wait a season or two more to pronounce his greatness.
As for Allan, he's no doubt the best trainer for the big races. OTOH, if I were an owner with modest means, I wouldn't put my horse in his stable because the horse may not get much attention from him. (Most probably Allan wouldn't have accepted the horse in the first place!)
David Hayes, the thing about him is that he understands the system here well and exploits it to the fullest. He imports young, early maturing horses here, squeezes every win out of them, chuck them out and get a new crop of young horses. I read some statistics a couple of years ago which showed that quite a high percentage of his horses had leg and other health problems. I can appreicate the fact that many owners who want to see early recoupment for their investments will think that Hayes's way of doing things is exactly how it should be. From a punter's point of vew, I don't have anything against Hayes either. Still, I'd like to think there's a better way to treat the horses.
As far as prolonging a horse's racing career is concerned, John Moored used to be the best. He understood how the ratings game was played. His horses seldom had multiple wins in a season. OTOH, his horses often delivered consistent results year after year. If we bother to remember that horses are animals, Moore's way of doing things is probably how things should be done. Unfortunately for him, we are moving towards a fast (as in fast food) horse racing culture. For many owners (and also the JC), prolonging a horse's racing career is not a priority anymore. Changes to the ratings system in recent years have not been favourable to Moore and his results have suffered.
corkey boy
23-12-2002, 13:28
I think Size has an extra string to his bow with his knowledge of the HK, (or any) handicapping system, which ensures that his horses are always well placed. In HK, the seemingly world class Handicapper Keneirly, (that Irish bloke who gets his melon on the tele ever now an then), couldn't come to grips with Size, whose horses were always one or even two steps ahead of his ratings.
For teaching horses (old and new) how to hit the line there is no equal. For improving horses regardless of age, ability or soundness there is none better.
The Battler
29-12-2002, 20:53
Size has proved he has no equal, as has Allan, both started off with little backing behind them and made it to the Top and more importantly have stayed there. Laxon? without Ethereal she would never have been heard of, hasnt set the world alight since Ethereal and I think without the Laxon name she would have struggled.
One thing Thwaites was right about, Ivan Allan will put big $ on his ability to get a horse right. The challenge to him nowdays is racing in the Big Races. Hawkes and Waterhouse both very successful but both walked into factorys.
Handy Harry
30-12-2002, 07:06
Its true that Ethereal was the best of Shiela's stable...but she doesnt run a factory. You will never see her on the premiership list, or running rings around them in an arena like HK as Sizey did last season.
However, give her a good horse and she will treat it as a horse should be treated... she will ride it well, and have it fit for the big races. Fit enough to take on the Waterhouses, Cummings's and Hawkses...and beat them. If I had a horse...esp a stayer...she would be on the top of my possible trainers lists.
The Battler
30-12-2002, 07:19
Besides Ethereal she had 1 other horse win a race and I think its won 2 races, and if Laurie wasnt pulling the strings where do u think Ethereal would have run in the Cups?
Handy Harry
30-12-2002, 08:01
I dont think that Laurie has been pulling Sheilas strings for a long time...think she has taken up with another trainer somewhere else.
In any case, it was Sheila that was caring for and riding Ethereal, doing the interviews and collecting the trophies. Just like birthin babies, Shiela did all the work...Mr Laxon was just the sperm doner. :rolleyes:
The Battler
30-12-2002, 11:22
Think you will find Laurie wrote the script all she had to do was what she was told...what about all those other winners she has train before and after Ethereal?.......can remember it took her 5 or 6 months to get her next winner after Ethereal..but it has won again since...lol...
Handy Harry
30-12-2002, 13:11
I hear that Sheila is in hospital after a nasty fall last week ( odd, no news of it anywhere?)
Monday, 30 December 2002:
Bendigo Cup winner Forlorna is set to give her injured trainer Sheila Laxon a timely tonic in Wednesday's $100,000 Bagot Hcp (2500m) at Flemington.
Laxon, who became the first woman to train the winner of the Melbourne Cup with Ethereal last year, suffered horrific injuries in a track fall a week ago.
She was transferred from the Alfred Hospital to Seymour Hospital on Monday and hopes to be discharged before the weekend.
Laxon will listen to the Bagot on a radio in between physiotherapy sessions, while her partner John Symons will saddle up Forlorna in the Listed race.
Laxon said that once discharged she would convalesce at the home of Symons' parents, Jack and Ada, at Seymour until at least next month.
"I imagine I might be out of hospital on Friday and I will be staying with John's parents while he is away for most of January at the (yearling) sales on the Gold Coast and in New Zealand," Laxon said.
"I was going to do all that (go to the sales) as well but I can't now," she lamented.
Laxon suffered a hip injury, broken bones in her back, six broken ribs and a lacerated liver after she was thrown from a horse into a steel fence at her new base at Macedon Lodge on December 23.
Doctors have ordered her to keep her weight off her left leg but at the weekend she managed to hobble around on crutches.
Laxon said that despite still being very weak and sore she was pleased with the way she had come through her ordeal.
"I am surprised how good I feel in myself," Laxon said.
"I was just so lucky. I could have been paralysed or even killed."
Acclaim, the horse Laxon was riding when she crashed heavily, on Sunday finished third last at Kilmore.
However Laxon has high hopes for Forlorna at Flemington on Wednesday.
She has effectively been training the seven-year-old from her hospital bed and has had glowing reports on the mare's progress from Symons and jockey John Didham.
"John (Symons) is very happy with the way she is going," Laxon said.
She said Forlorna needed the run last start when 2-1/4 lengths second to Bagot rival Karadan at Moonee Valley on December 21.
Forlorna was vying for the early lead in the 2040m-event and battled on strongly up the home straight much to Laxon's surprise.
"She had every right to stop as she missed a little bit of work between runs and I knew she was under-done," Laxon said.
"I couldn't believe she ran so well."
Laxon said the bigger track at Flemington would suit Forlorna, who won the Bendigo Cup three starts ago carrying 53kg.
However the handicapper has made her task much more difficult this time, upping her five kilos on her Bendigo win and she is joint Bagot topweight with Ballarat Cup winner Varsilayos on 58kg.
Laxon said the big weight was a concern for the mare as she was also up a kilo on her last start in an ordinary handicap.
Karadan rises three kilos to 57kg while Bold Bard on 55kg will carry three kilos more than his winning weight in the Bagot a year ago.
Out of form 2001 Launceston Cup winner Full Of Rhythm is on the minimum 53kg.
Handy Harry
03-05-2004, 22:13
Alan Aitken
Former dual champion Hong Kong trainer David Hayes strode up to join Tony Cruz in the standings yesterday with a double but both still have their work cut out pegging back the reigning king, John Size.
Hayes has produced a surging run in the past six weeks to draw level with Cruz on 50 wins and within sight of reigning champion Size (59) after lagging behind sharply during the middle of the season.
While Size also added to his tally yesterday with In The Bank (Shane Dye) to keep the chasers at a respectful distance in his quest for a third Hong Kong title from as many attempts, Hayes remains hopeful he can make a race of it over the final seven weeks.
"I don't know if I can beat John but I reckon I can get close," Hayes said after Super Dana (Gerald Mosse) and Always Welcome (Dye) won races early on yesterday's card. "I think I was giving a double-figure start to Tony Cruz at one point during February or March so it's been a good run to get back level with him. We're all getting low on ammunition at this stage of the season but if I can keep chipping away, you never know what might happen."
Likewise, Size-trained In The Bank did it the tough way, working forward from his 13 barrier to sit outside the lead then outgunned those chasing to take his record to two wins from three starts and he appears a nice prospect.
"When he won at Happy Valley, the margin was not big but I think I said at the time that the tight track didn't really suit him," Size said yesterday. "He was a lot more comfortable going around this course today and also going up to 1,400 metres probably was a help. At Happy Valley, he worked a bit early and then fought on strongly and it was another tough win here today. He is still a bit green and I think there's plenty of improvement in him. In The Bank looks a decent horse for next season."
Handy Harry
31-05-2004, 08:59
PLENTY OF PRIDE: Again on Saturday, Joe Pride, one of the rising stars in the training ranks, showed he has learned well from his former boss, John Size, now the leading Hong Kong trainer.
Among his other attributes Size had a knack with old horses. He could get them into top form and they would hold it for more than a flash-in-the-pan period.
Pride has milked two recent city wins with Flash Phantom, an eight-year-old. The gelding was badly weighted in the Grandstand Handicap at Randwick on Saturday but his wellbeing carried him to another impressive success. Magic Duck, also in the Pride team, continued her top form but found the promising Little Memsahib too good.
It may be argued that the former boom two-year-old Murphy's Blu Boy, now with Pride, disappointed in the last but he pointed out the three-year-old had had an operation for a wind infirmity which makes him a risky proposition.
http://racing.scmp.com/english/images/news/lead07062004a.jpg
John Size: setting the standard
MURRAY BELL
John Size quietly took his third championship season deeper into uncharted territory yesterday, with a double from a pair of lower-class front-runners taking him to 71 wins for the term.
Just last season, Size prepared 67 winners and became the most successful trainer in Hong Kong since the Jockey Club limited a trainer's stable to a maximum of 60 horses, some 15 years ago. Only the great George Moore - 11 times champion trainer of Hong Kong - ever prepared more than Size in the pre-60 days, and even he only did it once (1982).
Size and jockey Shane Dye worked a familiar but reliable game plan with South African-bred galloper Ahead A Head ($127), who went straight to the front in the Class Three contest over 1,800 metres on the all-weather track and held off his rivals to score a narrow win.
"I thought he'd run well provided he was left alone in front for some part of the race," Dye explained. "That's the important thing with him. If he gets some peace in front, he stays balanced. Today, he was quite well balanced so he fought on much better."
Dye did a similar barrier-to-post navigation at the head of affairs on Australian-bred Danehill gelding Dr Well, who broke his maiden at 2,000 metres in the seventh, although it was only his fourth day at the races.
"He raced well the other day [third to Kingston Glory] but he's a real one-pacer," Dye continued. "So today, when he'd had an easy time in front for most of the race, I got into him from the 600 metres. He's run right away from them in the final stages and this win will do his confidence a lot of good."
The stable went within a neck of landing a third winner on the afternoon when richly-bred Flying Spur gelding New Milestone - a three-quarter brother to Hidden Dragon - led for all but the last two bounds of the Class Four contest over 1,650 metres on the all-weather (race eight).
"It was a bit unfortunate for his owners, he's been knocking on the door but just hasn't quite been able to win one," Dye said. "But he will - there will be a race for him next season."
Craig Williams was the villain to New Milestone's cause, bringing Being Famous ($252.50) with a late rush to claim the prize for freshman trainer Danny Shum-shing. It was Williams' 29th winner this season.
Being Famous was specked late in betting from 34-1 to 24-1 despite his disappointing 11th to Knight Templar over 1,800 metres on the turf just seven days earlier.
http://racing.scmp.com/english/free/news/news07062004a.asp
Gloryous
19-09-2004, 04:32
I guess Malcolm Thwaites would be considered one of the better trainers so he`d clearly know more than me but from what i`ve seen J.Size would be where my money i`d go. Smart.
:cool:
Gloryous
19-09-2004, 04:36
Yes I would be putting my cash down on John Size who has done some remarkable things...not just in Hong Kong but when he was based in Australia.
Apart from Ivan, ( whose letter he published last year in the racebook was a classic) I would put down Bobby Baffert in the United States, Brian Mayfield Smith and Gai Waterhouse in Australia ( though she does have some disclaimers)
Im also a fan of Shiela Laxon ( of Ethereal fame) ...I like the way she spends time riding the horses herself in a nice relaxed environment. Much like John Size but without all the action of HK. :pWomen trainers get your vote.
:)
Gloryous
19-09-2004, 04:44
Hong Kong screwed up Daliapour, as it does with many horses (and some people):p :p Daliapour may have had a problem before Ivan bought him.
:)
Gloryous
19-09-2004, 04:54
I only really know HK racing to comment but from what ive seen, and continue to see, is that John Size has taken training to a new level. Of course the test really starts when his stable are all running off top Hcap marks. D.Hayes had great success early but then the handicapper caught up with him. As for ivan alan, without doubt he knows how to prepare for the big races, and probably any race, but i feel hes not too bothered about winning the lower class events any more.He uses the lower class events to lose strategically and get the horses fit on the track. (In Newmarket working the horses on the gallops to get them fit causes a lot of injuries.) Some great trainers in England do not rate Ivan as a horseman or a human being. He is not trusted. He told me just before I left him that it is all a con. He cheats to win and that is all he gets a buzz out of.
Gloryous
19-09-2004, 05:05
Like Scarper I am not qualifed to talk about trainers in other parts of the world so I'll restrict my comments to HK.
While J Size has been doing exceptionally well, I'll prefer to wait a season or two more to pronounce his greatness.
As for Allan, he's no doubt the best trainer for the big races. OTOH, if I were an owner with modest means, I wouldn't put my horse in his stable because the horse may not get much attention from him. (Most probably Allan wouldn't have accepted the horse in the first place!)
David Hayes, the thing about him is that he understands the system here well and exploits it to the fullest. He imports young, early maturing horses here, squeezes every win out of them, chuck them out and get a new crop of young horses. I read some statistics a couple of years ago which showed that quite a high percentage of his horses had leg and other health problems. I can appreicate the fact that many owners who want to see early recoupment for their investments will think that Hayes's way of doing things is exactly how it should be. From a punter's point of vew, I don't have anything against Hayes either. Still, I'd like to think there's a better way to treat the horses.
As far as prolonging a horse's racing career is concerned, John Moored used to be the best. He understood how the ratings game was played. His horses seldom had multiple wins in a season. OTOH, his horses often delivered consistent results year after year. If we bother to remember that horses are animals, Moore's way of doing things is probably how things should be done. Unfortunately for him, we are moving towards a fast (as in fast food) horse racing culture. For many owners (and also the JC), prolonging a horse's racing career is not a priority anymore. Changes to the ratings system in recent years have not been favourable to Moore and his results have suffered.Ivan trains his owners better than he trains his horses. As someone astutely said, Ivan owns the horses he accepts to train...He cares about some more than others because he really does have an interest in them. (Watch for horses with 'C' names like CHINA CAT.) I agree with your sentiments about the handling of the horses and the way racing is going which leaves out the family enjoyment of racing and following a great horse through a long career like DESERT ORCHID and many of the jumping horses in England. Hope you guys don't mind me sticking my two cents in as I don't know a great deal about horses or gambling really. I'm just an observor with too much time on my hands at the moment.
'It's a nice milestone [200 winners] to get behind me, and certainly one to look back on'
MURRAY BELL
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The John Size machine cranked up an extra gear at yesterday's fifth meeting of the new season, with the reigning champion handler turning in yet another superb piece of horsemanship to win the day's feature race with comeback galloper Winning Dragon.
Size, who turned 50 in July, also celebrated his 200th winner in Hong Kong when longshot Elvis ($267 for $10) led throughout to win the opening race for apprentice Paul Lo Pak-hin.
Winning Dragon completed a 533-1 double for Size stable followers, paying a dividend of a neat $200. He controlled the race from outside leader Classa For Ever and skipped clear in the straight, holding a comfortable 1-3/4 length margin over Caspar Fownes' representative Snippedydooda.
http://racing.scmp.com/freeservice/news/images/lead20040920.jpg
Jockey Robbie Fradd and Winning Dragon battle past Snippedydooda to claim the feature event and help trainer John Size complete a deserved double. Picture by Kenneth Chan
Just as it was when Size posted his first 100 Hong Kong winners early last year, his double century has been completed in record time.
Bearing in mind that he barely had a runner for the first month of his tenure back in September 2001, his 200 has been racked up in three years, almost to the day.
"I guess it's a nice milestone to get behind me, and certainly one to look back on," Size said. "It's not the sort of figure I could have imagined when I came her, but it's been very enjoyable along the way. One thing I can tell you, it's not getting any easier," he added.
Class Five winer Elvis was having his third run for the Size stable, having been transferred from the care of Australian Geoff Lane, who reached compulsory retirement at the end of last season.
The five-year-old was bought by Lane as a yearling for Winston Wong Ching-wah and wife Lucy, who took the prize as the most excited owner of the afternoon by a clear margin.
"Yes, I guess they were pretty excited and I'm very pleased the horse was able to win for them," Size continued. "That trip to Happy Valley on Wednesday night must have been just what he needed."
Big races or small, they all count the same on the trainers' premiership table. But in the satisfaction department, they don't come much better than Winning Dragon, who carries the same colours as celebrated stablemate Electronic Unicorn - the red, pink and yellow livery of owner Lo Ying-bin.
Winning Dragon is now a six-year-old but recurring soundness problems had limited him to just 12 previous Hong Kong starts.
"He's obviously a very good horse because he hadn't raced since January and he'd had most of 2003 off with injury as well," Size explained. "His problem has been his feet but at the moment, he seems pretty sound. I've been able to give him two trials, so he's come to the races fairly fit.
"The rain during the day was probably a blessing, too. Horses with feet problems like him are usually a bit happier when the rain takes the fire out of the track. But to win like that, first-up today, he's clearly a smart horse."
The big-priced double takes Size to three wins for the season and you can sense the momentum starting to build as the blonde Australian begins the arduous trek toward defending his crown as champion trainer.
He also had a second in Race Two (King of the Turf), runner-up in the fourth (Fashion Jewellery) and thirds in the sixth (favourite Star of Shantou) and the last (Wealthy Treasure).
"They've all run good races. Star of Shantou wasn't that well suited on a track favouring front-runners, so to come from near the rear and finish third was a good performance from him," he said.
"Craig Williams said Wealthy Treasure had every chance in the last race [behind Classic Master and Ain't Here]. I think 1,600 metres might be near the top of his distance range," he added.
Fashion Jewellery was involved in a complicated triple protest in the Class Four (1,000 metres), in which he split outsider Rare Collection (Howard Cheng Yue-tin) and Ace of Pace (Eddie Lai Wai-ming).
The Entrepreneur gelding was backing up from his fourth over the same course and distance behind Bulb King eight days earlier and showed the expected improvement, without quite getting the right result.
SCMP
Hope you guys don't mind me sticking my two cents in as I don't know a great deal about horses or gambling really. I'm just an observor with too much time on my hands at the moment.
Glory...you are one of the best things to ever happen to this forum & have certainly raised the level of discussion...please keep it up! :cool:
Gloryous
20-09-2004, 14:51
Hope you guys don't mind me sticking my two cents in as I don't know a great deal about horses or gambling really. I'm just an observor with too much time on my hands at the moment.
Glory...you are one of the best things to ever happen to this forum & have certainly raised the level of discussion...please keep it up! :cool: Thank you. It is the strangest comfort to me to talk to you guys most days. Like coming home...(It is about to storm here.) We find out today whether we have a case to ask for a stay until the result of the 20th October hearing 04. We cannot prepare for our case seperated from our legal documents, and possessions. The Court will certainly rule Ivan Allan must return our belongings but it has already cost us as he has had access to private legal papers and my computer. How can we win in these circumstances? It seems impossible odds... It seems my mother will lose her home of 18 years and any compensation for all the work she did maintaining properties the Court still perceives belonged to Ivan Allan. Where there is a will...I hope to talk to you all one day when I am more myself. Maybe I can repay your kindness with posting some of Ivan's gambling system but it may be as flawed as he is. Is anyone interested, as that would be a topic to hash back and forth, the merits of?
:) :rolleyes:
Its a bit like home for some of us too Glory...one big happy family really:)
Maybe I can repay your kindness with posting some of Ivan's gambling system but it may be as flawed as he is. Is anyone interested, as that would be a topic to hash back and forth, the merits of?
I think most here are interested in anything that can be tested out in the real world to make money...you never know there may be something to it? Sounds good! Best of luck with the court thingy.
Thank you. It is the strangest comfort to me to talk to you guys most days. Like coming home...(It is about to storm here.) We find out today whether we have a case to ask for a stay until the result of the 20th October hearing 04. We cannot prepare for our case seperated from our legal documents, and possessions. The Court will certainly rule Ivan Allan must return our belongings but it has already cost us as he has had access to private legal papers and my computer. How can we win in these circumstances? It seems impossible odds... It seems my mother will lose her home of 18 years and any compensation for all the work she did maintaining properties the Court still perceives belonged to Ivan Allan. Where there is a will...I hope to talk to you all one day when I am more myself. Maybe I can repay your kindness with posting some of Ivan's gambling system but it may be as flawed as he is. Is anyone interested, as that would be a topic to hash back and forth, the merits of?
:) :rolleyes:
Always interesting to see other systems. Especially those by a trainer and what their thought process works like.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Numbers game is key in race for training honours
ALAN AITKEN
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While the jockeys' championship is going to be difficult to prise from Douglas Whyte's iron grip again, barring something unforeseen, the break Tony Cruz has put between himself and John Size makes for a serious tussle in the trainers' table.
Late last season, Cruz recognised that he and Size had almost identical strike rates but that the champion had sent out 100 more runners, so if his thinking was to improve to champion this season by running his horses more often, he is slightly ahead of last year's numbers, but it is the difference in strike rates which has been remarkable and set him up to topple Size.
Up to and including the January 10 meeting last year, Size led with 36 wins from 245 runners, just under a 15 per cent strike rate, while Cruz was on 28 wins from 193 runners and just a tick under Size's strike rate. While their strike rates took similar trends thereafter, Size sent out 300 more runners and Cruz only another 250.
At virtually the same point this term - January 10 last year was meeting 36 of 78, last Saturday's was 34 - Size's strike rate from just 219 runners is slightly lower, while Cruz's strike rate sits 20.8 per cent from almost exactly the same number of starters he had had in two more meetings last year.
Obviously, if Cruz sustains a 20 per cent strike rate, he is unbeatable - Size was able to do it in his first year but it is a rare feat anywhere and the story of this season will be not what Size can do about it but just how high a percentage Cruz can maintain.
In his past three seasons, Cruz has had 425 runners in 2001-02 (11 per cent win rate) , 465 runners the following year (12.3 per cent) and 447 runners last year at 13 per cent.
If we allow that his aim is to have more runners than previously but that his win rate will drop to something similar to, even a touch better than what he has previously returned then perhaps Cruz would have 470 runners, or another 280, with his tally in the mid to high 60s - and his strike rate would have to plunge by half, to single figures, for him to fall short of 67 wins.
Size, at the current strike rate or those of the last two seasons, will need another 300 runners at least to reach 70 wins and be assured of fighting out a tight finish. Either that or his own win rate will have to jump. It's an intriguing battle again but make no mistake - Size is under the gun. Let's see what he's got.
SCMP
NEWS
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Size, Cruz Cup rivalry at full force again
ALAN AITKEN
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Tony Cruz hopes Perfect Partner and Bullish Luck can topple John Size ’s quartet – Super Kid,,High Intelligent, Palette Natural and Great Delight – to claim the Stewards ’ Cup.
Photos:Kenneth Chan
Reigning champion trainer John Size may have weight of numbers in the Group One $8 million Stewards' Cup today as he seeks to maintain his perfect record in the race but arch-rival Tony Cruz could be the thorn in his side once again with Perfect Partner.
Size and Cruz have become the fiercest of rivals in the past two seasons vying for the championship where Size has prevailed, but Cruz has taken a handy mid-term lead in that race this term.
And, as the battlefield switches to the Group One mile that Size has taken three times in three attempts, Cruz-trained Perfect Partner and Bullish Luck give him two great chances to topple Size's quartet - defending Stewards' Cup champion Super Kid, Derby hopeful High Intelligent, Palette Natural and Great Delight.
Cruz won virtually all there was to win last season but had to play a loser's role as Super Kid took the Stewards' Cup and will be out for revenge this afternoon.
The feature looks incredibly open, as David Hayes has a strong hand in a race he has won twice previously, saddling up racing's first lady, Elegant Fashion and the find of the early season, Ain't Here, while Caspar Fownes-trained The Duke is capable of upturning the favourites as has become his trademark.
With so little between so many horses, luck in running will be worth a fortune, and that is something Perfect Partner has not always enjoyed this season but he confirmed his place as one of the top milers in the SAR with his second placing behind Firebreak in the Hong Kong Mile last start and his work has indicated the five-year-old has not gone backwards since that run.
The Stewards' Cup looks evenly run with regular frontrunners Great Delight and Figures drawn wide though, with the exception of Stay Young which has led but not in the recent past, their 11 rivals would probably be quite comfortable allowing the pair to push and cross to the lead positions.
With Felix Coetzee to do the navigating, Perfect Partner will look for a midfield trailing position to relax behind the speed before producing his powerful finish in the straight.
Stablemate Bullish Luck also unwound a brilliant effort on the international card when second in the Hong Kong Cup and a reproduction of that will see him highly competitive for Christophe Soumillon, but his question is whether he can switch as effectively back to the mile from 2,000 metres.
That is the case too for Ain't Here, after he had no luck at all down the straight in the Hong Kong Cup after improving in leaps and bounds leading to the international meeting.
But while Cruz may look to hold the stronger hand, Size will be right in the thick of things after Douglas Whyte's mount Super Kid (gate six) and Shane Dye-ridden High Intelligent (gate three), got the best of the draw and should be in front of their main rivals turning for home.
http://racing.scmp.com/freeservice/news/news20050116.asp
cheesebeast
31-01-2005, 13:02
Size concedes championship to Cruz
Trainer says he can't clinch fourth straight title despite improving his own strike rate this season
MURRAY BELL
John Size trained three winners at yesterday's feature race meeting at Sha Tin and then unburdened himself with a declaration that arch-rival Tony Cruz is "home and hosed" in the trainers' premiership race.
Size, 50, has been in Hong Kong three full seasons and won the premiership each time, an astonishing feat of horsemanship that has gained him an army of admirers at home and around the world. But number four won't be happening, at least not this season.
"Have a look at the race book," Size said matter-of-factly, "this was meeting number 40 for the season and Tony is 15 winners in front. It's mathematically impossible for me to beat him. The premiership is all over, no need for any further discussion."
Late last season and early this term, the Size-Cruz battle had been an arm wrestle, a see-sawing contest in which one trainer would strike a blow only to be counter claimed by his rival a race or two later. But in the last two months, Cruz's "pedal to the metal" philosophy has blown away all opposition, the reigning champion trainer included.
Even on a treble day, Size gained only a miniscule advantage, as Cruz led in two winners and three seconds from eight runners.
What's it been like for the incumbent trophy holder and how has he handled the pressure? "Ironically, it's been easier than ever because the pressure is off - Tony's going to win the premiership and the pressure, for the first time, is no longer on me.
"I said at the start of the season, I couldn't win the premiership for a fourth time and, unfortunately, I'll be proved right," Size continued. "I knew I just didn't have the firepower this year, with a lot of horses who were well up in the handicaps for their form last season."
As usual with team Size, his treble yesterday had its foundation in some extraordinary skill and horsemanship. Take, for example, runaway race four winner Fashion Jewellery, who had his first start at 1,600 metres and bolted in by 4?/4 lengths.
"Well, he was a bit of a trick because he wouldn't go around corners," Size said. "So all I could do with him while he got used to the idea was race him over 1,000 metres down the straight. Those races were too short for him, but they served their purpose and they helped him become very solid in condition.
"Now, he's had three races around a bend and handled it all right. Today's was a really good win and he appreciated the slightly softer track, as well as the step up to a mile."
Winner number two for Size was $19.50 favourite Picture Perfect (Douglas Whyte), who fought off the Cruz-trained Bullish General ($73) under the guidance of Stanley Chin kin-ming to prevail by a neck.
"He was a horse who took a full preparation to get used to the place," Size said. "He's coping better now but can still get a bit on the toe, but he's not wasting as much energy as before. If his temperament keeps going the right way, then he'll be all right."
Size completed his treble with another honest servant, Dr Well, who was abandoned by Whyte after his ninth to Cheerful Heart over 2,200 metres at Happy Valley on January 12.
Size didn't have to look far for a replacement and renewed his association with his Audemars Pigquet Queen Elizabeth II Cup-winning jockey, Glyn Schofield.
"He's another who definitely enjoyed the softer track today, because he's quite a one-paced horse and just keeps going," Size said. "He's had excuses at his last couple of runs but I was pleased to see him back on song. He was given a perfect ride and, like most winners, had all favours."
While Size may have had to bow to the all-conquering Cruz this year, his performance figures are actually better than last year's. He won the 2003-04 premiership with a strike rate of 13 per cent and this year has turned them out even more consistently at 14.4 per cent.
The problem is that Cruz, in unstoppable mode, has improved his season strike-rate to 22.4 per cent. :eek::eek::eek: And that spells premiership. http://racing.scmp.com/freeservice/news/news20050131.asp
There is a recent song in the charts with the line that goes "... and the drugs don't work any more.."....think it's Coldplay or Travis. :rolleyes:
cheesebeast
31-01-2005, 21:08
Some training strike rates from Aus....
http://www.racingandsports.com.au/racing/rstop20.asp?action=tpremier
So Cruz is the Gai Waterhouse of HK?
Trainer John Moore sets a new record
John Moore becomes the one who has won more races than any other trainer in Hong Kong's racing history when Royal Victory dashing home under Christophe Soumillon for victory in Race 2 tonight at Sha Tin.
With this success, trainer John Moore put his career wins to 845 in total to break the record made by Hong Kong racing legend Brian Kan, who retired at the end of the 2002/03 season.
Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Executive Director, Racing, presented Mr. John Moore with a commemorative silver dish after Race 2 to mark the record-setting occasion.
Courtesy of the HKJC
cheesebeast
09-07-2008, 12:43
John sizing up return home
Tuesday, 8 July 2008:
Fresh from winning his fifth trainers' premiership in Hong Kong, John Size has declared he will return to Australia but when remains to be seen.
Size moved to Hong Kong seven years ago and has enjoyed remarkable success, wrapping up the 2007-08 premiership title last Thursday with 68 winners.
The 54-year-old confirmed his plans to continue his training career in Australia but said he would come back when the time was right.
"I will come back to Australia to train," Size said on Sydney radio station 2KY on Tuesday morning.
"The thing is, when I do I can't go anywhere from there. Once I go back to Australia I've got to stay there, my options are closed.
"I can't come back to Hong Kong, I can't get into Japan and Europe would be a whole new experience for me, I'd enjoy training in Europe, but I don't think there's much money there."
When Size does return it is likely to be to owner Bob Ruttley's Shipton Lodge property at Cobbitty, around an hour from Sydney on the banks of the Nepean River.
The picturesque facility has its own training track and Size confirmed he had visited it during a recent Australian trip and was impressed with what he saw.
"I think it would be a good base and you could certainly race from there and train a lot of horses from there," Size said.
"So sure, that's an option for me.
"Whether I could get stables at Randwick or not would remain to be seen, that would be up to the AJC."
But in the short-term, Size's future appears to be in Hong Kong.
The Jockey Club recently changed the retirement age of non-citizens from 60 to 65, giving Size another option should he wish to stay on longer-term.
He said he would keep a close eye on how racing in the two countries developed over the coming months and years but admitted Australia appealed because it was the place he was most likely to unveil a champion.
"You are restricted a little bit in Hong Kong by the number of horses you can have, you can only have 60 horses in training," Size said.
"That probably limits your chances of getting a champion because you're not turning over enough horses and that might be the thing I'm missing out on."
Size moved from Brisbane to Sydney in 1997 and underlined his potential when he finished second to John Hawkes in the trainers' premiership in season 1998-99.
He continued to figure prominently despite his relatively small team of horses before being lured to Hong Kong seven years ago.
Renowned for his work ethic, Size admitted he was surprised at the success he had achieved in Hong Kong in such a short period of time and said his experiences there had made him a better trainer.
"If you told me before I came here I was going to win five out of seven (trainers' premierships) I certainly wouldn't have believed that," he said.
"I've been here seven years and I've probably developed further as a trainer because of the experience I've had here."
http://www.racingandsports.com.au/racing/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=130988&story=John_sizing_up_return_home
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