Brenton Avdulla aims to help John Size reach major milestone on talented sprinter Wunderbar
Brenton Avdulla is excited to team up with Wunderbar for the first time in a race as the Australian bids to play a crucial role in helping John Size reach a major milestone at Sha Tin on Saturday.
Eighteen months after guiding Wunderbar to victory in a Conghua trial, Avdulla hops aboard the only horse to have beaten superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising in Saturday's Class Two Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1,200m).
A winner at six of 10 starts, including back-to-back victories over Ka Ying Rising last term, Wunderbar is one of Avdulla's four rides for Size, who has trained 1,599 winners in Hong Kong.
After Wunderbar racked up four consecutive wins last year, three surprise defeats prompted Size to give him a breather.
The Rich Enuff gelding resumes in an exciting finale to Saturday's card which also features in-form sprinters Fast Network, Bottomuptogether and Invincible Shield.
Six wins from seven starts! 🚀
The favourite Wunderbar overhauls Bottomuptogether for a @zpurton three-timer at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/45hyLlMTdZ — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 13, 2024
'Very early on in his career I trialled him at Conghua. It'll be good to be on him for the first time on race day and he's drawn well [in barrier three],' Avdulla said.
'He's probably found one of the hottest Class Twos of the season but I'm looking forward to riding him.
'He had those couple of runs where little things were against him and he probably didn't perform to his best and John started again with him. He seems like he's trialled OK, so you've got to respect the master taking him back to the races.
'He's obviously probably going to improve on whatever he does, but I'd expect him to run well if he's anywhere near his best. He'll give himself every chance from the draw.'
Ahead of his first start since January, Wunderbar has notched three wins and a third from his four recent trials at Conghua.
Avdulla is also optimistic about his chances on Size's progressive three-year-old Juneau Pride in the Class Three Lung Mun Road Handicap (1,400m) on Saturday.
A pint-sized galloper weighing in at under 1,000lbs, Juneau Pride has racked up three victories and five placings from eight starts in an impressive debut campaign, with Avdulla on board for all but one race.
His bid for a hat-trick fell narrowly short last start when he ran second to South Star under top weight of 135lbs.
'He's racing really well. He's probably one of my favourite horses to ride in Hong Kong,' Avdulla said.
'He's been so consistent. I don't think I've finished further back than third on him and he's never been beaten far. He bounces, you can put him anywhere and he tries hard.
'He's probably at that mark now where it's going to pull him up a little bit, but there looks to be three main chances and he's one of them with the other two who have drawn next to each other [Light Years Charm and Another World]. He'll run well again.'
Juneau Pride again carries top weight of 135lbs but comes into gate two after almost overcoming barrier 10 last start.
Fourth in the jockeys' championship with 38 wins this season, Avdulla also rides last-start dirt winner Meepmeep and Smashing Express for Size on Saturday.
Lahore, Never Too Soon, Pejibaye and Fighting Machine are the 34-year-old's other rides. Size will also be represented by Arden, Bundle Of Charm and Lifeline Express as he bids to join John Moore in training 1,600 winners in the city.
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