Hong Kong's impact on the HK$16.8 million Sprinters Stakes has been strengthened with trainer John Size confirming Enthused will join Sacred Kingdom in the October 4 Group One event in Tokyo. The penultimate leg of the Global Sprint Series sees the world's joint-rated top sprinters, Sacred Kingdom and Scenic Blast, square up and Enthused will strengthen the Hong Kong challenge, despite not having run since an out-of-character second-last in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Stakes at his most recent ru

Hong Kong's impact on the HK$16.8 million Sprinters Stakes has been strengthened with trainer John Size confirming Enthused will join Sacred Kingdom in the October 4 Group One event in Tokyo. The penultimate leg of the Global Sprint Series sees the world's joint-rated top sprinters, Sacred Kingdom and Scenic Blast, square up and Enthused will strengthen the Hong Kong challenge, despite not having run since an out-of-character second-last in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Stakes at his most recent run last March.

"It was the only time he's been out of the first five in 20 runs here so it wasn't his usual form and I think he was just tired," said Size (pictured) yesterday in confirming the Nakayama trip. "We have found nothing else. He's had a decent spell since that run and it would have been nice to race him before Japan to be sure and to know he's firing but we don't have that option."

Size said he would look for further guides in Enthused's trackwork and a barrier trial before he makes the trip, but said "at this stage, we're making plans to go and Douglas Whyte will ride him".

(www.racing.scmp.com)