J Size

John Size was a top trainer in Sydney before his arrival in Hong Kong in 2001 with a reputation for improving and rekindling the spark in his horses. He announced himself by winning the trainers’ championship in his very first season. He was level with Caspar Fownes at the end of 2013/14 with 62 wins apiece as he chased an eighth title, but Fownes was crowned champion on count-back with one more second-place finisher. Size notched that eighth championship in the 2015/16 season, while his ninth, in 2016/17, saw him set a new record for most wins in a season with 94 – 27 more than nearest rival John Moore. In winning his 10th title in 2017/18, Size set a new benchmark for earnings in a season, accruing total prize money of HK$176,441,240. His 11th title in 2018/19 was sealed after another tussle with Moore that went to the season’s final day. He has trained two Horse of the Year winners, the multiple HKG1 scorers Electronic Unicorn and Grand Delight. In 2009/10 he trained Brave Kid to equal the then-record of six wins in a season and Entrapment who finally broke that record with seven victories in just five months. At the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, he broke his deadlock with George Moore to become the only 12-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer in history. He saddled his 1,500th Hong Kong winner in 2023. Size secured a record-extending 13th Hong Kong Trainers’ Championship in 2024/25 and took his overall Hong Kong career wins tally to 1,612 at the end of that season. He claimed another Group 1 in 2025 with Red Lion, who captured the Champions Mile as a surprise 89/1 chance over Voyage Bubble. He closed out the 2025/26 season in Hong Kong with 53 wins. Achievements:Hong Kong Champion Trainer (2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2022/23 & 2024/25); Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee (2018); Queensland Racing Hall of Fame inductee (2019). Notable Wins Include:Hong Kong Derby (2012 Fay Fay, 2015 Luger, 2018 Ping Hai Star), Hong Kong Mile (2013 Glorious Days), Hong Kong Sprint (2017 Mr Stunning, 2019 Beat The Clock), QEII Cup (2004 River Dancer), Champions Mile (2003 Electronic Unicorn, 2009 Sight Winner, 2017 Contentment, 2024 Beauty Eternal, 2025 Red Lion), Chairman’s Sprint Prize (2003 Grand Delight, 2018 Ivictory, 2019 Beat The Clock), Stewards’ Cup (2002 & 2003 Electronic Unicorn, 2004 Super Kid, 2007 Armada, 2013 Glorious Days, 2020 & 2022 Waikuku), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (2004 Electronic Unicorn, 2016 Contentment, 2021 Waikuku), Champions & Chater Cup (2004 Super Kid), Centenary Sprint Cup (2003 Grand Delight, 2018 D B Pin, 2019 & 2020 Beat The Clock, 2021 Hot King Prawn), Hong Kong Classic Mile (2016 Sun Jewellery, 2018 Nothingilikemore, 2021 Excellent Proposal, 2024 Helios Express), Hong Kong Classic Cup (2009 Unique Jewellery, 2013 It Has To Be You, 2015 Thunder Fantasy, 2016 Sun Jewellery, 2024 Helios Express), George Ryder Stakes (2000 Al Mansour), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000 Georgie Boy), The Galaxy (2001 Padstow), All Aged Stakes (2001 El Morada). Hong Kong Career Wins (at start of 2026/27 season):1,665 (win strike rate: 13.3%).