Sky Jewellery emerged as an early contender for next year’s Classic Series with an impressive debut win last month and John Size is confident his three-year-old can maintain his perfect record at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Sky Jewellery joined a select group of horses including Romantic Warrior and Lucky Sweynesse to win on debut at the Valley when he justified his skinny price of $3.7 with a cosy success on January 15.

The son of five-time Group One winner The Autumn Sun showed a smart turn of foot to edge clear of his 11 rivals and win by a length, eased down at the winning post by Hugh Bowman.

He became only the fourth Size-trained galloper to win on debut at Happy Valley in the last 10 years and bids to continue his rise in the third section of Wednesday’s Class Four Wai Yip Handicap (1,200m).

“He did his job well and he was impressive on his first day out,” Size said. “He’s come home and he seems OK since. He’s in pretty good order and he should be able to go on with it.”

While Sky Jewellery will have to carry top weight of 135 pounds and defy a wide berth from gate 11, Size hopes his class will prevail.

“He showed us plenty before he started racing and he looked like he’d win first start,” Size said. “He’s done that and acquitted himself very well and I think he’ll keep going.

“The gate is really important and he’s got more work to do to win the race. He’s not going to get a sweet run by any means but hopefully his class can help him out.”

Sky Jewellery’s owner-breeder, Tung Moon-fai, is no stranger to tasting success in the four-year-old series, with Sun Jewellery winning the Classic Mile and Classic Cup for the same connections in 2016.

While the Hong Kong Derby has eluded the owner so far – Sun Jewellery finished seventh nine years ago and Unique Jewellery fourth in 2009 – he will hope Sky Jewellery can transform into a leading contender over the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.

The homebred gelding heads to the city circuit on Wednesday as one of Size’s six-strong squad, with the in-form handler taking a powerful team to the midweek meeting.

Size’s stable is represented by a trio of last-start runners-up in the form of Smashing Express, Golden Rise and A Americ Te Specso, while Take Action will look to record consecutive wins.

After a dominant two-length success last time out over Happy Valley’s extended mile, Take Action steps up to 1,800m in the Class Four Hoi Yuen Handicap.

Size, who has fired in 11 winners since the turn of the year, believes the son of Sacred Falls has leading claims once again when he jumps from barrier eight under Brenton Avdulla.

“He did it well last time,” Size said. “He’s still in Class Four for now so he might be hard to beat.”

Size’s stable was busy at Tuesday morning’s barrier trials, with Beauty Eternal and Helios Express stretching out on the Sha Tin dirt.

The veteran handler confirms he will be mob-handed in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) on February 23 with Beauty Eternal, Helios Express, Red Lion and Howdeepisyourlove lining up in the contest.