Karis Teetan is doing his best to manage the expectations around John Size’s exciting galloper Young Champion but admits the four-year-old is destined for “bigger and better things” after Sunday’s Class Two Woodpecker Handicap (1,200m).

“He’s had two trials and I thought the second trial felt better,” Teetan said. “He’s improved from the first one, so he’s still a work in progress, but Mr Size is happy for the horse to go to the races and he’s good to go.

“I thought last season he did everything right. His last win was a good win and I’m looking forward to getting back on him.”

Young Champion recorded a promising victory over 1,400m on his second outing in the city in February before a comprehensive success over the same distance the following month when teaming up with Teetan for the first time.

He defied a wide gate and a step up to Class Two grade to stretch comfortably clear of his rivals and win by a length, eased down at the line by the Mauritian.

The son of Zoustar collected one win over 1,445m from four pre-import outings in Ireland and is set to step back to 1,200m for the first time since his debut in Hong Kong, where he finished second to the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained Illuminous.

While the gelding is winless over the distance and has been off the track since March 16, Teetan is confident he is capable of giving a good account.

“Mr Size knows what he’s doing with the horse and he thinks the horse is ready to go, so this is why he is taking the 1,200m,” Teetan said. “He’ll be a bit fresh still but it could be a nice race to start his season.

“He’s got bigger and better things to come in the future and I also do think further would be better for him, but he’s been off for a while and he’s a bit fresh so I think the 1,200m will be perfect.”

Young Champion is owned by the HKJC Racing Club and Size understands the expectations that comes when such a promising horse dons the club’s black, red and white colours.

“He’s going to be an exciting horse for a lot of people, so let’s hope he doesn’t disappoint anybody,” Size said in the Post’s recent HK Stable Rundown.

Believed to have cost around HK$6 million, Young Champion is the most expensive horse to ever represent the Racing Club and faces stiff opposition from Francis Lui Kin-wai’s winning machine, Copartner Prance, and the hat-trick-seeking Full Credit.

Elsewhere on Sha Tin’s 10-race card, Size will be looking to flex his stable muscle when he sends out arguably one of the most exciting up-and-coming sprinters in the city in the Class Three Tailorbird Handicap (1,200m).

Wunderbar claimed four wins from five outings under James McDonald last term, twice prevailing in tight tussles with Ka Ying Rising, who now boasts a rating of 119.

The son of Rich Enuff suffered an injury after his last start in January and required surgery to remove a bone fragment.

After 245 days away from racing, he resumes with Zac Purton in the saddle and jumps from gate two.

“He’s an exciting horse that I’m looking forward to riding,” Purton said. “I haven’t sat on him before, so I can’t wait to get on his back on race day and get a feel of him and see what he’s about.

“Obviously, he’s had a bit of time off with the little setback and with the knee surgery but from what I see he’s still competitive in his trials and it would be nice to be associated with him.”