Jockey Brett Prebble says John Size-trained Amazing Kids is one of the young horses becoming the next generation of top Hong Kong sprinters, while the trainer is just relieved nobody is going to ask him about the Classic Mile.
Amazing Kids (Prebble) sat off a rollicking speed in the Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup (1,200m) yesterday, then shot clear at the 250m to put an end to the race and the winning streak of Fabulous One, who punctured to finish unplaced after working hard midrace.
It was a third win from four attempts at 1,200m for Amazing Kids but, as one of the top-rated four-year-olds, Size might normally be fending off suggestions to run in the first of the classics for that age group over 1,600m.
“But we’ve tried him a few times at 1,400m already and he hasn’t been quite the same, at this stage anyway, and I think everyone realises that we’re going to keep sprinting him,” Size said. “We’ll just see what’s in the programme, but I’m in no hurry with him at this age.”
Prebble said Amazing Kids, along with the likes of his regular ride, Lucky Bubbles, represents the cream of the rising local sprint talent.
“He’ll be a Group One horse for sure. They’re the horses to take over from the old guard and be running in the Hong Kong Sprint next season,” he said. “I’ve always liked Amazing Kids since the first day he ran here and won so well. He’s looked one of the most impressive young sprinters we’ve had here in the last few years and I couldn’t wait when I got John’s text to ride him. He’s got the ability and he’s got the physique – he’s a tank.”
Despite the win, Prebble said his experience on the gelding would leave him better prepared to ride him next time.
“When I opened him up, his response was so quick, just instant, that I worried I had hit the lead too early and left him a bit vulnerable if there was a late finisher,” Prebble said. “I think if I rode him again, I’d count to 10 before I really asked him to let go, knowing what I know now.”
The win of Class Four stablemate, Raging Bull (Vincent Ho Chak-yiu) was also anticipated by many but he probably exceeded most expectations as far as the manner of victory.
In Ho’s first win for Size since Fulfil A Wish, coincidentally at the same meeting in 2013, he planted the four-year-old behind a good speed and then put a wide margin on the opposition in the final 300m.
“I was pretty happy when they ran along and made it a contest,” said Size. “Raging Bull has been toughened up by plenty of racing over 1,400m and I knew if they made it a test, coming back to 1,200m he’d be at least as strong as any of them.”
Raging Bull has been a work in progress for the past two years, with his runs often widely spaced and Size admitted to considerable satisfaction at yesterday’s result.
“He hasn’t been as straightforward as it might have seemed looking in and there’s been a lot of work that has gone into that win,” Size explained. “I’ve always liked him a bit but he hasn’t vindicated my opinion until now. He had education issues and I was worried at one point that he might go the wrong way, but to his credit he did want to be a racehorse and now that’s the direction he’s going.”