He’s got a long way to go before being considered a genuine Hong Kong Derby chance, but John Size’s Ensued has already done something that hadn’t been achieved in the city in 17 years.

By winning Sunday’s Class Three Sha Kok Handicap (1,800m) at Sha Tin, Ensued became the first horse since Champions Gallery in 2006 to salute on Hong Kong debut over nine furlongs or further.

It’s hard enough for private purchases (previously raced horses) to win first time out in Hong Kong while they’re still acclimatising to their new environment, but doing it at distances further than a mile has proven a formidable task.

While unveiling horses over longer distances was commonplace in years gone by, it’s not something that’s been tried too often in recent times, and it took the masterful Size to pull it off.

Only two attempted it at 1,800m last season – Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Winning Steps finished fourth and David Hayes’ Swan Bay 12th – and the last horse to run in a Derby after first stepping out in Hong Kong over 1,800m or further was John Moore’s Sunny Speed in 2019.

Eleventh in the Classic Cup first up in the city, Sunny Speed finished third in the Derby at $87 before heading back to Australia with Moore following the trainer’s Hong Kong retirement. Champions Gallery also went on to run third in the Derby, but both he and Sunny Speed entered Hong Kong on much higher ratings than Ensued, who was lifted to a mark of 70 after his weekend win.

Ensued couldn’t have two better people in his camp, however, with Size second to none when it comes to bringing gallopers up through the grades, and jockey Zac Purton suitably impressed by the three-year-old’s gutsy win after a wide trip from an outside gate.

The Purton-Size combination no doubt contributed significantly to Ensued being backed into $7.8 despite seemingly having everything against him in his first run since his second on Kempton’s Polytrack circuit in April.

Purton backs Beauty Eternal

Golden Sixty might be biding his time in his box until December’s Longines Hong Kong International Races, but Tony Cruz is certainly ensuring there’s no lack of intrigue in the city’s mile division in the three-time Horse of the Year’s absence.

After his reigning Hong Kong Mile champion California Spangle won Sunday’s Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m), Cruz was quick to declare that “Zac had first choice on this horse. He made the wrong decision”.

While it does seem like there’s a little bit more to it than Purton simply choosing to ride Beauty Eternal over California Spangle, it’s hard to argue that he’s not on the wrong horse of the two at this point.

Giving $1.8 favourite Beauty Eternal 12 pounds, second elect California Spangle controlled proceedings under new jockey Hugh Bowman and finished a length clear of his main market rival, who could only manage third.

Purton, however, remains hopeful Beauty Eternal can turn the tables on California Spangle as they progress towards their immediate grand final, the Hong Kong Mile.

“I just think that too many jockeys sat back and allowed California Spangle to control that race,” said Purton, refusing to engage in a sparring match with Cruz.

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“It was handed to him on a platter. He got into a nice rhythm without being challenged. He controlled the pace, slowed it right up and then sprinted home.

“You can’t beat him under those circumstances because he’s such a good horse, and he’s got such a good turn of foot when he relaxes like that unchallenged in front. I don’t really think it was a true test of where we’re all at. I thought my bloke ran well, and I’m hoping he’s going to improve because he needs to improve.”