John Size is weighing up a possible trip to Dubai with Howdeepisyourlove after the five-year-old recorded his first win at Group level in Wednesday’s Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m) at Sha Tin.

While he was somewhat overlooked in the market at $5.3, Howdeepisyourlove thrived on his first attempt over the minimum trip to burst from the rear of the field under Zac Purton and overhaul odds-on favourite Magic Control in the final stride.

After Howdeepisyourlove gifted Size his fifth win in the contest and Purton’s first of the afternoon en route to a treble, the master trainer said he may follow in the footsteps of Sight Success – who won the HK$4.2 million contest for the handler two years ago – to compete in April’s Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) in Dubai.

“It’s a possibility for him,” Size said. “We’ll just see how he is at home and if you’re travelling a horse, you need a fair bit in your favour.”

Howdeepisyourlove was immediately taken back from the outside gate and switched towards the rail to follow the honest early fractions set by Whizz Kid.

After travelling powerfully four lengths off the lead as Magic Control hit the front 400m out, Purton’s mount responded generously to his urgings to eat away at the $1.6 favourite’s advantage with every stride.

Despite giving 10 pounds away to Cody Mo Wai-kit’s improving sprinter, Purton delivered the top weight to pinpoint perfection to snatch victory in the final stride.

The Group Three success continued Size’s recent run of form and took the handler to 16 wins for the 2024-25 campaign.

“He did the job very well and it was a pretty impressive effort to get to the leader – he’s a hard horse to pass,” Size said.

“He’s made small improvement along the way and while he hasn’t looked flash as he’s gone up in class, he’s always been there to do the job and today he got one of his rewards. That was a straight race so it opens up our possibilities for him.”

Howdeepisyourlove may bid to make it consecutive wins in the Al Quoz Sprint for Hong Kong-trained horses over Meydan’s straight 1,200m course on April 5 after California Spangle scorched the turf in 2024.

He provided Purton with his first of the afternoon en route to a treble, which was secured by Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Legend St Paul’s and the Jamie Richards-trained Storming Dragon.

“The outside fence looked the place to be in the small field and the gate allowed me to get out there because the speed in the race was great, it just opened everything up,” Purton said.

“He is a consistent horse. He’s just a step below our top ones, so he needs to take his opportunity when he can get it and today was that.”

After Howdeepisyourlove’s success, Purton literally got the chance to ring in the New Year thanks to a commemorative bell placed outside the parade ring.

The bell – which is based off the bell that gold medal winners rung at the Paris Olympics – counts down the number of wins required for Purton to reach Douglas Whyte’s all-time Hong Kong record of 1,813.

Purton was back on bell-ringing duty after the Class Four Tsung Pak Long Handicap (1,600m) and the second section of the Cha Kwo Ling Handicap (1,200m), with Legend St Paul’s and Storming Dragon adding to his stellar season.

He is now just 10 wins behind Whyte’s record figure.