Andrea Atzeni will aim to record a breakthrough top-level win in Hong Kong in Sunday’s HK$24 million (approx. £2.3m) G1 FWD Champions Mile (1 mile/1600m) when he takes the ride on the Ronald Arculli-owned defending champion Red Lion.
Atzeni said: “His most recent trial and the trial before his last run were good, but he just didn’t run accordingly last start (14th in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy, 1600m).
John (Size) put blinkers on him in his last trial (on 16 April). He trialled well with them and, hopefully, we get a lot of rain.
It’s hard to know, and obviously, the track dries very quickly, too.
“Any rain is welcome – hopefully there’s a bit of juice in the ground, and given a smooth run around, he could run very well.”
The courageous Red Lion – trained by Australian Racing Hall of Famer Size – finished second in the 2024 FWD Champions Mile at odds of 29/1 before his 89/1 make-all victory over heavy favourite Voyage Bubble in 2025.
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“I felt like in his trial when he had a bit of room and he’s rolling along, that’s when he’s happy. It seems like he responds a bit better when he’s to the outside,” Atzeni said.
“I just feel like he doesn’t like to be on the fence with horses surrounding him and that he needs his own space. He’s quick out of the gates and the blinkers seem to work on him.”
Size is going for a sixth win in the race, having also prevailed with Electronic Unicorn (2003), Sight Winner (2009), Contentment (2017) and Beauty Eternal (2024).
Alongside his local rivals, Red Lion faces three international challengers to his crown, including the Harry Eustace-trained Docklands, who is making his third trip to Hong Kong having last finished fourth in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile in December.
Also in the line up are Japanese pair Jantar Mantar and Strauss.
Red Lion is one of two defending champions reappearing this weekend along with Ka Ying Rising, who is aiming to win a second HK$24 million (approx. £2.3m) G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (6f/1200m).
Fellow hometown hero Romantic Warrior is trying to land a record fourth HK$30 million (approx. £2.8m) G1 FWD QEII Cup (1m2f/2000m) after triumphs in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
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Liberty Nicholson-Hulse