Helios Express kept his Classic Series clean sweep hopes alive with a dramatic last-gasp victory in the Classic Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Punters who took the $1.6 on offer had their hearts in their mouths as John Size’s rising star was pocketed on the inside rail and desperately searching for clear running in the first half of the straight.

Hugh Bowman hooked Helios Express off the inside and through a gap between rivals to set after the leader, Chancheng Glory, over the final 200m.

It took until the final stride for the raging favourite to win by a short-head from a brave Chancheng Glory, who defied his $52 quote to almost pull off a major upset.

Clinching the Classic Mile-Classic Cup double, Helios Express will aim to join Rapper Dragon (2017) and Golden Sixty (2020) as the only winners of the four-year-old treble in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 24.

Bowman admitted he was concerned when the pace slackened mid-race – the overall time was just over a second slower than standard – and when Helios Express was held up on the inside.

“There were a few anxious moments at the 700m when I couldn’t hold him, but I was given no option but to ride him as I rode him, given the way the race panned out,” Bowman said.

“I was confident he was going to give me the turn of speed which he did deliver, but I must give full credit to the second horse. I felt at the 100m mark I was going to win comfortably and the second horse just wouldn’t lie down and give it to us.

“He settled really well but then when the pace started to change, it got really muddling around the corner, he didn’t cope with that very well.

“It wasn’t run genuinely enough, so two good horses fought the finish out and I’m very proud of my horse because he had to dig deep and most horses wouldn’t have done that.”

Size was relieved after equalling John Moore and the late Brian Kan Ping-chee’s feats with a fifth Classic Cup victory.

He rated Helios Express as potentially his best ahead of previous winners Unique Jewellery (2009), It Has To Be You (2013), Thunder Fantasy (2015) and Sun Jewellery (2016).

“It seemed like he was pretty strong in the run in a slow-run race and he was lucky to get out, get the breaks and get the leader down,” Size said.

“It could have been prettier than that but he got the job done, so that’s the main thing. I’m not sure how confident [Bowman] was that he was going to win, but it was a difficult assignment for any rider and he certainly made a good fist of it.

“I think some of my winners in this race were long-priced horses and that’s sort of indicative of the race, really. This horse has had extremely good form going into the race.

“As his starting price would suggest, the public was expecting him to be dominant, so therefore I would say his form would be better than the other horses I’ve had that have won the race.”

Size looks set to have a strong hand in the Derby, with Ensued to join Helios Express after a solid third in the Classic Cup.

“It looks as though he’s run a very good race and as we have known, he should be a little bit better suited at the 2,000m,” Size said.

Bowman said Helios Express only needed an even speed in the Derby to pass his first test at 2,000m.

Bowman oozes confidence ahead of Helios Express’ Classic Cup test

“With a smooth run race, he’ll be OK,” Bowman said. “Like all horses, he’s going to benefit from an even pace.”

Star Mac rocketed home from last for fourth, but David Hayes’ staying prospect could be forced to rely on the discretionary powers of officials to secure a Derby start because of his low rating.

Bowman finished the afternoon with a treble after bookending the meeting with wins aboard the David Hall-trained Sun Of Makfi and Douglas Whyte’s Blue Marlin.