Without a win since justifying $1.15 favouritism in the 2021 Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) 777 days ago, Courier Wonder may never get a better chance to register his sixth success than in Sunday’s Class One Swaine Cup over the six-furlong trip at Sha Tin.

Twice placed at Group One level in his 14 starts over the past two seasons, John Size-trained sprinter Courier Wonder will encounter only five Swaine Cup opponents and four of them – Master Eight, Rewarding Together, Adios and Ima Single Man – are out of form, out of the handicap or, in the case of the latter, both.

Size – who leads his former assistant, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, by 10 victories as he seeks to become Hong Kong’s first 12-time champion trainer – hopes Courier Wonder’s consistency receives a winning reward in Sunday’s second event.

“He’s just at that level where it’s difficult for him to win a race, but in the handicap conditions – even though he carries a heavy weight – that’s probably his best chance of winning one,” Size said of Courier Wonder, who will carry 135 pounds from gate one.

“He probably went close one other day (when second to Duke Wai on March 5) when he carried a heavy weight. I think his condition is good. He looks fine. He hasn’t been overtaxed with racing, as far as we know.

“I think he’s still got another good run in him. Small fields are always very tricky, but I think there’s enough pace in this race to give him a chance.”

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Like Courier Wonder, Master Eight won his first five races before embarking on a long losing run. It will be 554 days since Master Eight’s fifth victory, which he gained in the 2022 Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m) on New Year’s Day, when Lor’s struggling speedster jumps from barrier six.

The most serious threat to Courier Wonder returning to winning ways looks to be Duke Wai, who has beaten Size’s star in five of their eight meetings.