Toronado (IRE) gelding Helios Express led home a tricta for Aussie bred sprinters in the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m) on Saturday defeating Invincible Sage (Thronum) and Patch of Theta (Zoustar).
Helios Express wins the G3 Sha Tin Vase - image HKJC
Helios Express has racked up an impressive list of Group I placings behind the superstar Ka Ying Rising overt the last 12 months and with that superstar not engaged for this assignment he got his turn to shine.
Trained by John Size and ridden by Hugh Bowman, he scored by a hread in a thriller taking his overall record to eight wins and nine placings from 18 starts.
Bowman was relieved to get the win on a horse that certainly deserved it.
“I’ve had a lot to do with the second horse, Invincible Sage, and they both got the soft track conditions which suited both horses and you’ve seen them both run to their premium,” said Bowman.
“He (Helios Express) thoroughly deserved it. He’s been chasing the ‘champ’ (Ka Ying Rising) all season and with his absence, he was the number one seed and he came out in front.”
Helios Express was bought from Australia after his first win at Benalla in November 2022 and was originally sourced from Inglis Digital.
The Chris Wells-bred Helios Express was purchased by Jamie Edwards’ Emsley Lodge for $10,000 as a yearling through the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale in 2020 and it was Edwards who prepared the horse for his only start, and win, in Australia when the horse was named Tex Mex.
Helios Express is the first winner from Paris Texas, a winning Hinchinbrook mare from the family of four time Group I winner El Vencedor and Group winners Hadabeclorka, Chocante and Lavish Girl. Sadly, she died in 2021 after producing just two foals.
