John Size is hoping class can prevail when last season’s Champion Griffin Sky Jewellery makes his seasonal reappearance in the Class Three Helping Older Adults Age Well Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Winning three of his five starts last season, the promising four-year-old was last seen running riot over the mile at Sha Tin in April 2025, decimating a smart field by two lengths after storming home from the rear.

He was set to be a leading contender in the Classic Series this term, but The Autumn Sun galloper bled from both nostrils in a barrier trial in November and was ruled out of the four-year-old series.

Breaking from barrier five with Hugh Bowman aboard after a year’s absence, Size is looking for a smooth run as he looks to make up for lost time.

“He was training up very well and then he bled, so we had to stop and give him a rest,” Size said. “He’s been good and looks to be in pretty good shape now.

“Obviously the lack of competition and the time off is probably not going to help him, but his class will allow him to run really well but normally the horses that have been racing have too much of an advantage.

“The main thing is how his lungs are working – we cannot judge anything at the moment so we will just have to find out.”

Size will also unleash another smart prospect on Sunday’s card, with Irish import Nautical Force making his Hong Kong debut in the Class Two Fostering An Enabling And Inclusive Society Handicap (1,800m).

The son of Ghaiyyath was a dual winner pre-import for trainer Johnny Murtagh, winning at Cork and Tipperary, though his career-best effort so far saw him finish fourth in the Class Two King George V Stakes (2,392m) at Royal Ascot last June.

He evidently has plenty of talent and sneaks into Class Two company on his local debut carrying just 115lb, while his draw in barrier eight could have been worse on paper.

His trials have seen him steadily improve and Size is hoping a spot of rain can help his four-year-old.

“He’s actually taken a long time to adapt to Hong Kong – the tracks have been a little bit hard for him, but we’ll start to get a couple of showers from Friday and that’ll probably help,” Size said.

“Most of the horses handle the tracks as they get a bit slower so he’ll be looking for that. He’s only a small horse, but he’s done very well and I’m sure he’ll parade well too, but he’s not very big so he’ll have to be placed carefully as he makes his beginnings here.”

Size is also hoping a change in distance can help his talented, albeit frustrating, Super Express get back to winning ways in the Class Three Enabling Professionals To Flourish For Their Charge Handicap (1,200m).

Finishing in the top two in all nine career starts, it has been frustrating for Size that the Ten Sovereigns galloper has only managed a pair of victories despite that consistency.

All of his runs have come over the 1,400m trip and Size believes a drop in trip could be the key to unlocking a power-packed finishing effort.

“He’s been a bit frustrating to say the least, but we’re bringing him back in distance and we’ll see if that makes any difference to him,” Size said.

“He can run a bit of time here and there, so at 1,200m he might be better suited and we’ll soon find out. He’s very consistent, but we’re doing something he doesn’t like and I’m hoping that it’s just bringing him back a furlong.”

On a busy day for the stable, Size also runs Meepmeep, Noble Deluxe, Synergy Express, Young Legacy and Must Go.

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