Trainer John Size believes a little rain could provide the lift Red Lion needs as the defending champion prepares to return to the scene of his finest hour in the HK$24 million Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin on 26 April.
The seven-year-old has endured a stop-start campaign since his surprise success in last year’s edition, and he arrives this time without a victory in 2025/26. Yet there were enough encouraging signs in a sharp barrier trial on Thursday morning to suggest the old spark may still be there.
Red Lion stunned a high-class field 12 months ago when Hugh Bowman delivered a perfectly judged ride, the Belardo gelding edging Voyage Bubble by a short head at long odds as the favourite chased a fourth consecutive top-level triumph.
His path since then has been less straightforward. A six-time Hong Kong winner, he has made the placings only once from six starts this season, often travelling well before fading when the pressure increased.
Still, Size has not lost faith.
“Actually, he’s been trialling very well recently – I suppose he always does,” the multiple champion trainer said. “But on raceday, he seems to be giving up pretty early in the race. He hasn’t been fighting out the finish. But we’ll try again.
“He’s been drawn on the inside recently, and maybe hasn’t enjoyed that.”
There was more promise in Thursday’s 1200m trial at Sha Tin, where Red Lion went forward, travelled fluently and responded when asked by Andrea Atzeni before being beaten only a nose by Little Paradise, who recorded 1m 10.96s.
That effort has renewed hopes ahead of what looks another searching assignment. Red Lion is set to meet five horses who finished around him in December’s Hong Kong Mile — Docklands, My Wish, Galaxy Patch, Sunlight Power and Copartner Prance — while Voyage Bubble is again among the likely leading contenders.
The strongest piece of form in Red Lion’s recent record remains his staying-on third in the Hong Kong Mile last December, when he produced a far more determined finish than in several of his other runs this term.
Size feels the weather may now play a key role.
“That would make a big difference to him,” he said. “Maybe tomorrow we might start to get a bit of a shower here and there and that will certainly help.”
Red Lion has shown a liking for easier ground, with two wins and three further placings from six appearances on rain-affected surfaces. If the forecast showers arrive, his prospects of a successful Champions Mile defence may brighten considerably.
Little Paradise also caught the eye in the same trial. The four-year-old, who landed the Hong Kong Classic Mile in February, steps into elite company for the first time later this month.
Jockey Zac Purton was encouraged by what he saw.
“I like how well he began. He’s not the best in the gates; he gets a little bit nervous in there, but it was good to see him begin well,” Purton said.
“When his head was in front, he just wanted to give a little bit more, which is a good sign.
“It’s very hard for four-year-olds. It will just be good to see how he’s going to measure up against the older horses at a mile. But he’s an exciting horse for sure.”
With proven class, a trainer searching for the right conditions and rain in the forecast, Red Lion heads back to Sha Tin with renewed purpose.
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