John Size is looking ahead to Sha Tin on Sunday with cautious optimism as he prepares the likes of four-timer seeking Stellar Express, Wunderbar, Super Express and Endued.

By his own omission, it has been a slow campaign for the 13-time champion trainer, who currently sits sixth in the premiership on 27 winners.

Although his customary midseason flourish did begin in earnest in December, seeing him shoot up the table as a result, Size is still striving for much more and Sunday sees him unleash several of his in-form horses.

One of those is Stellar Express, who will step outside his comfort zone of the straight 1,000m to contest the Class One Essex Handicap (1,200m) alongside stablemate Wunderbar.

Stellar Express has been a revelation on the straight track, winning his last three starts in succession, including the Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy by three lengths two starts back.

All five of his local wins have come on the straight track, but a lack of options has meant Size steps him up to a course and distance where he is zero from six. He will also need to overcome the widest barrier in stall 12.

“At the end of the day, we have to run him in something as we’ve run out of [1,000m] races,” said Size.

“He’s better off down the straight but we’ll take him back to a circle race and see what he does. We’ll see what he can do, but previously, he hasn’t been as effective with a bend to negotiate.”

Stellar Express will be joined by Wunderbar, a seven-time winner who has been unable to recapture his best form this season, including a recent four-and-a-half length defeat behind Stellar Express.

“We’re hoping Wunderbar is building towards a win – a bit of rain would be helpful for him and if there’s any sort of track condition on Sunday then he’d certainly appreciate that,” Size said.

Size is also hoping for a smart performance from the consistent Super Express, who is looking to extend his top-two sequence in the Class Three Cumberland Handicap (1,400m).

The Ten Sovereigns galloper is yet to finish outside the top two in seven starts, winning on a pair of occasions, including a cosy success two starts back over course and distance.

He was beaten just half a length on his most recent start behind Riding Together and Size is hoping his Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) entry will give him reason to aim that high with another strong display.

“Up until this point he’s been really consistent, we’re hoping he’ll continue in that vein. The horse has been working fine and seems in pretty good shape, so we’ll see what he can deliver,” said Size.

“We’ll see how he races [before deciding about the Derby] – that’ll determine what we do with him moving forward. We haven’t had much experience with him yet but the 1,400m distance is most suitable for him at the moment, so we’ll see if we can win some races at it and then go from there.”

Size also unleashes another Derby entrant in the form of the highly tested Endued, who tackles the Class Three Kowloon Tong Club Trophy (1,600m).

A winner second up this season over course and distance when drawing barrier one, he has been plagued by wide draws in all his other starts this season, having to break from 12 (twice), 14 and 10.

That unfortunate sequence has continued on Sunday, with the son of Deep Field drawing barrier 14, and Size knows the task is going to be difficult despite his charge arriving in strong form.

“He’s been running really well. He’s not had much luck with the gates and the one day he did draw inside, he ended up winning the race,” said Size.

“He’s been disadvantaged, but he will still run a good race nevertheless.”