Emerging star Flying Blue will be given his chance to grab a Group 1 in Hong Kong after defeating several established stars in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Flying Blue (4g Piccolo – Bright Blue by Scenic) sprinted hard from the top of the straight to give trainer John Size his third Chairman’s Trophy in the last four years.  The gelding had won his maiden at Avondale in April 2010 when racing under the name Abterra Blue.

“I knew we would win after 200 metres,” jockey Douglas Whyte told South China Morning Post.  “He had his head on his chest and relaxed.  When he let down, he really let go like an extremely good horse.”

Flying Blue was beaten by Captain Sweet at his first two starts after arriving from New Zealand, but he has turned the tables on that horse at their past two meetings.  He will now step up to the elite level in the G1 Champions Mile on April 25.

“If he’s healthy and well come the Champions Mile, he will run,” Size said.  “This was the ideal time to try him in Group company and we will see how he copes in the Champions Mile.”

Flying Blue is by former Eureka Stud shuttler Piccolo and his dam Bright Blue was a homebred for Barrie and Midge Griffiths.  She was trained by David Hall and won three races around the Victorian provincials in 1999-2000.

Before her Hong Kong Group winner arrived, Bright Blue had foaled the Australian winners Star Of Noosa (Favorite Trick) and Noble Connection (Iglesia).  She has a 2yo colt and a yearling filly by Yamanin Vital and was covered by Raise The Flag last year.