From Racing Post HKwww.racing.scmp.comReigning king John Size was left shaking his head after four seconds at a sodden Sha Tin yesterday and perhaps only a single win now stands between Caspar Fownes and his second trainers' championship on Wednesday as the curtain comes down on a thrilling finale to the title race. "I think I need one more to be safe," said Fownes after him, Size and long-time leader John Moore managed just one victory each, maintaining the status quo, with Fownes lea

From Racing Post HK

www.racing.scmp.com

Reigning king John Size was left shaking his head after four seconds at a sodden Sha Tin yesterday and perhaps only a single win now stands between Caspar Fownes and his second trainers' championship on Wednesday as the curtain comes down on a thrilling finale to the title race. "I think I need one more to be safe," said Fownes after him, Size and long-time leader John Moore managed just one victory each, maintaining the status quo, with Fownes leading Moore by two wins and a further two to Size, with only Wednesday at Sha Tin remaining.

"John Moore is still a chance - he looks to have a good team in Wednesday but he needs a good day. "Johnny Size was the one I was worried about coming here today - he could have trained three or four and made it really interesting, but he's had seconds all afternoon.

"We've all been there and had days like that but he probably didn't want it right now. He also has a strong hand on Wednesday but he needs at least five winners now so it looks too hard," he added.

Fownes said he took a risk on backing up Victory Mascot - part of Brett Prebble's four-win haul - after the three-year-old had been unlucky last weekend.

"He should have won and deserved to win one so I'm pleased he's got there today, but he isn't the most robust of horses, only lightly framed, so he's done a good job to back up today," Fownes said.

Prebble said not to sell Victory Mascot short next season, despite him being in Class Five yesterday.

"He's actually quite a nice horse but has been a bit dumb and slow to learn. In Australia, he'd be the sort of horse you would train for 3,200m because he has tremendous lung capacity. He's only a three-year-old, had 133 pounds today backing up and he did a good job," Prebble said.

Moore trained his first winner since Viva Pataca took the Champions & Chater Cup on May 31 when King Of Hearts (Darren Beadman) broke through for his maiden win in the all-weather Class Four sprint and was left lamenting "just one more".

"I think if I'd had one more winner and gone into the last day one behind Caspar, it might have still been a race but it's hard now," said Moore, who has led the championship for most of the season.

"Anyway it was nice to win one with King Of Hearts because I'd already told the owner he was taking a long time to come to hand and acclimatise and might not get there this season. His last couple had been better and he'll pay his way next season."