John Size hopes his Sunday squad can give “three champions” something to think about when Raging Blizzard, Helios Express and Red Lion look to upset the heavy favourites at Sha Tin.

The champion trainer has seen some great superstar horses pass through Hong Kong, both in his stable and elsewhere, and Sunday’s trio of Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble will be right towards the top of that list.

He is not shying away from taking them on, however, with Helios Express and Raging Blizzard lined up to take on the world’s best sprinter in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m), while Red Lion will look to upset the applecart in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m).

Size said his horses are in fine fettle and he knows all too well how things in racing do not always follow the script.

“The horses are fine and I’m expecting them all to run their usual races. They’ve been in very good shape and they’ve been racing well on the track too,” said Size.

“They all ran well on International day and now they’ve had some time to recuperate, I think they’re ready to run very well again.

“I can’t ask for anything more from them in their preparation, but you also can’t expect too much when you’re racing three champions like Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble and Romantic Warrior.

“It could all go according to Hoyle, or there could be an upset – you never know until they cross the line.”

Raging Blizzard was best of the rest behind Ka Ying Rising in last month’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), posting a clear career best in the process with a fast-finishing effort.

He will be looking to do the same under Brenton Avdulla, while Helios Express – who was fifth in that same race – will bid to run another admirable race behind Ka Ying Rising, having finished second or third behind him eight times in his career so far.

“I don’t think there’s much between them at this stage of their careers; it just depends on the circumstances of the race, the tempo and the track conditions of the day to split them,” said Size.

“Raging Blizzard ran a big race on International day to finish second and Helios Express has been consistent too.”

Meanwhile, Red Lion has the unenviable task of trying to beat the Triple Crown-chasing pair of Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble, fresh off wins in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) and Group One Hong Kong Mile respectively.

Red Lion is no stranger to an upset, however, as he caused a $90.8 shock to beat Voyage Bubble in last year’s Group One Champions Mile when making all the running under Hugh Bowman.

In another small field, it is more than plausible he could be granted the run of the race from gate one, and Size knows just how easily upsets can happen on the big days.

“You never know what can happen on a racetrack and that’s how we live, but as we know he’s beaten [Voyage Bubble] once and that was a good example that on any given day, something can work in your favour,” Size said.

“His run on International day was near his best and he’s fit and well.”