Multiple championship winning trainer John Size is known for his steady starts so his absence from the winner's circle for the first couple of meetings of the new season isn't a surprise - in fact, it's expected.
But the Australian flexed his muscles yesterday, landing consecutive races with Hypersonic (Douglas Whyte) on the all-weather and Tour De Force (Keith Yeung Ming-lun) on the turf to place him on two wins and only one behind the meeting number stamped on the front of the race programme - his own usual rule of thumb as to how things are progressing.
Hypersonic was probably the first Size runner hard in the betting market this term, starting 2.6 favourite before surging to the front at the 200m in the eighth, then holding off late finisher Great Spirit.
If Hypersonic was anticipated and standard, Tour De Force showed more of the trainer's nuance in landing his second first-up victory from three attempts.
Rarely does Size miss the opportunity to send a horse to the races fresh, without at least one barrier trial, but Tour De Force's fresh record decreed that he could go straight in and perform.
"Mr Size told me he expected a very strong pace, so not to rush the horse and wear him out but just follow behind, maybe fifth or sixth," said Yeung. "But the pace wasn't quite as fast as we expected, I was able to put him in the box-seat position behind the favourite Bobo Dragon. When we turned into the straight, the grey on the outside of the leader, Arrived Ahead, got tired and moved out and I was able to get a perfect run and plenty of room."
From there Tour De Force and the comfortable 118 pounds on his back did the rest as he held Fionn's Treasure at bay to get home by ½ length and take his record to four wins from 14 starts. Size tried the gelding at longer trips last season, but to date his record in shorter sprints has been much more convincing with all four wins coming from seven tries there.
Yeung has made a great start to the term, sitting on four wins after completing a double with Tour De Force - he had earlier won for his ex-boss Almond Lee on Joyful The Great.
