Helios Express reaffirmed his status as a future star of Hong Kong racing with a dominant victory in Sunday’s Classic Mile at Sha Tin.

Hugh Bowman made no mistake aboard the $1.3 favourite and kept things wonderfully simple, sitting close to the pace, kicking for home early and never looking likely to be troubled once he saw off the brief challenge from runner-up Helene Feeling.

It was a second Classic Mile win for Bowman, who landed his maiden triumph aboard the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained Furore in 2019, and the ever-professional 43-year-old was delighted with the authoritative success.

“I’m excited to be riding such a magnificent individual,” Bowman said. “The race set up very well for him over 1,600m with a small field. I was delighted with barrier six and everything panned out very well.

“The critical side of me says I would have liked for him to settle a bit better, but it was a very sedate tempo which encouraged him to travel the way he did, and that’s the sign of an exceptional horse. When I gave him room and asked him for an effort, that’s exactly what we all saw.”

It has been an up-and-down season for Bowman, who now begins a five-meeting suspension and was hit with another three-meeting careless riding ban on Sunday, but the 43-year-old rider ensured he went out with a bang, adding success in the first leg of the Classic Series to his four-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

The commanding win was John Size’s fourth in the contest, with Sun Jewellery (2016), Nothingilikemore (2018) and Excellent Proposal (2021) his previous winners, while it marked a remarkable third success for owners the Yung family, who also enjoyed Classic Mile triumphs with Mr Vitality (1996) and Olympic Express (2002).

Helios Express stopped the clock in 1:34.44, around four lengths outside the standard time of 1:33.80, and left his usually reticent trainer breathing a sigh of relief.

“It’s always very exciting and a bit of a relief actually, to have another good horse come along,” Size said. “Of this generation of horses, he seems to be the quality horse among the ones he’s competing against. It was a very convincing win.

“It was a slow-run race and he was able to adapt to a very slow tempo, which is a good thing in a racehorse. He’s always in very good shape, he’s happy to do his job and he’s made the adaptation to Hong Kong very well.”

Opposing eight rivals, Helios Express was taking on the smallest Classic Mile field since Golden Sixty’s 2020 renewal, and Size hopes his son of Toronado can follow in the footsteps of the city’s most successful galloper when he tackles the Classic Cup (1,800m) on March 3.

“He’s just a lovely horse to have around the place and his next run will be in the [Classic Cup],” Size said. “There’s always some concern [about the step up in distance] because the circumstances of the races can change dramatically from one race to the next.

“The good horses overcome a different style of running and they win. He has to do that, he has that in front of him. It’s always gratifying to see another good horse come along in this age group. Hopefully, he has a good career.”

The 64-rated Star Mac flashed home from the rear of the field to finish third under Karis Teetan, running the final 200m in 11.84 seconds – 0.31 of a second faster than Helios Express.

“I was thrilled with the run, it was very good,” Hayes said. “I thought he should’ve run a clear second. James [McDonald] laid in on him and he had to change direction. Now he’s qualified for the Classic Cup, which is terrific.

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“He went past all those things today who were rated well above him. He’ll go straight to the [Classic Cup], he’s got more distance written all over him.”

Size secured a double for the day when $18.4 chance Bundle Of Charm overhauled Gummy Gummy in the closing stages of the Class Two Azalea Handicap (1,200m) on the dirt.

The five-year-old’s victory took Size to 27 wins for the season, leaving him 19 short of championship leader Pierre Ng Pang-chi as we approach the halfway stage.