Trainer John Size made an early start on the defence of his championship at Sha Tin last night, opening his winning account at the third meeting of the season, then reiterated that things would not be easy for him this term.
In winning the championship last season, Size did not even have a starter until the fifth meeting, so last night's Kwangtung Handicap Cup victory with Dr More, having Shane Dye aboard, probably counts as an early win for the Australian. 'Yes, I stood them up a big start last year - wouldn't want to be trying to do that all the time,' Size quipped.
Talented but tricky, Dr More swept around the field from near the tail of the Kwangtung Handicap Cup field then charged clear to win clearly if not easily over Sun Shine River.
'You see in this horse the problem that my team has got with the handicaps,' Size explained. 'I mean, he won tonight but he was off 110 in the handicap and now he will go even higher. We were lucky enough to find a race tonight that he was able to win but it doesn't get any easier once they get up there. That's much the same story for all the horses I had winning races last year - they've got to a high enough mark to make winning difficult.'
Dye took Dr More back to the rear last night to overcome the Danehill gelding's habit of over-racing. 'He seems to race best that way - the last time he won, that was how he was ridden and he does settle better,' Size said.
'The speed wasn't bad tonight and he settled okay. Caracoler came out in front of him on the turn and made things a bit more difficult for him but nothing Dr More couldn't handle. I just hope we can find another race that he can win.'