Super Kid, who raced in New Zealand as Cheerine Kid, was better known as a miler and had failed badly in his only attempt at 2,400 metres in the 2002 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie, Auckland.

Owner Wong Yuk-kwan had raced the gelding in New Zealand out of the stables of Kevin Gray and called Size one day, out of the blue, asking the Australian if he would take over the handling of the Group One Bayer Classic (1,600 metres) winner when he arrived here.

'Obviously, when someone asks you to take a Group One winner for them, you don't need too long to think about it,' Size mused.

He thought the 2003 international meeting in December would come too soon for Super Kid and instead aimed the gelding towards the $14 million Hong Kong Derby on March 21. But the four-year-old picked up a virus in January and missed a lot of work.

Jockey Shane Dye said: 'There was a bit of controversy about it at the time because John could possibly have got the horse to the Derby. It would have been rushed, but he could have got him there.

'But he advised Mr Wong to be patient and he would get his rewards. John understands that you can't win these Group One races on an interrupted preparation and it was much more important to get the horse right before proceeding. Today's win was the reward.'

Super Kid resumed with a cracking fourth to champion Silent Witness in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize on April 25 and then had commendable but arguably unlucky seconds in two Group races at the metric mile, firstly behind Figures and then last week behind Electronic Unicorn.

'John has shown once again what an outstanding trainer he is, and this is a very, very good horse,' Dye stressed. 'And there's more improvement to come, we still haven't seen the best of him. I predict he'll be there, doing Hong Kong proud on International Day.'

When asked what he considers to be Super Kid's best distance, Size replied: 'That's a very good question and, to be honest, I don't really know the answer. He can win a Group One race at any distance from 1,600 metres to 2,400 metres.

'As far as the internationals in December are concerned, he'll be entered for the Hong Kong Mile (1,600 metres), the Cup (2,000) and the Vase (2,400) and we'll decide which way we go with him closer to the day.'

Dye was at his masterful best on Super Kid, sending the gelding forward from his awkward 11 barrier and getting a saloon passage, three back on the fence.

'You can ride him anywhere in a race but I had planned to go forward on him from that barrier,' Dye said. 'Once I took him to the outside at the top of the straight, he just sprinted too quickly for them.

'He's the second-best horse in Hong Kong, behind Electronic Unicorn. He has a great turn of acceleration and that's what won the race for him today,' Dye said.

Super Kid has now raced nine times in Hong Kong for three wins and three seconds, one of which was a first-past-the-post win which he controversially lost in the stewards' room, ironically enough to one of yesterday's vanquished rivals, Bullish Luck.

South African Glyn Schofield went forward on Ronald Arculli's River Dancer and trailed outsider Caracoler until the home turn. However, the Sadler's Wells gelding was beaten for turn of foot when Super Kid quickened at the 300.

'I don't fully believe it's correct when people say he needs cut in the ground,' Schofield said. 'His two best runs have been on top of the ground.'

David Hayes was disappointed Elegant Fashion had been beaten and said he was beginning to doubt whether she got a strong 2,400 metres. 'She didn't get a nice run into the first turn but it was lovely after that,' Hayes said. 'On the day the first two were too good. She was in great order, didn't have any excuses in terms of condition.

'She's now had three runs at 2,400 metres in her life, she's been placed in three Group Ones but hasn't been able to win at it.'