By Leo Schlink

Beauty Joy added further lustre to a magnificent career by becoming the joint-oldest horse to win a Group race in Hong Kong with victory in the HK$4.2 million G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) as Little Paradise confirmed his rich potential with success in the HK$4.2 million G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (21 June).

Drawing the curtain on Hong Kong’s Group race season, Beauty Joy (124lb) became the first nine-year-old to snare a Group race in Hong Kong since Able One won the 2011 G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m), while four-year-old Little Paradise laid the foundation for higher honours with a maiden black type victory.

Formerly known as Talladega when unbeaten in four starts in Australia, Beauty Joy boosted his prizemoney earnings to HK$40.36 million with his eighth win from 56 starts in Hong Kong and second consecutive Premier Plate victory.

With five Hong Kong Group race victories – one at Group 2 and four at Group 3 level – the gelding also boasts three placings at the highest level, including a second to 10-time Group 1 winner Golden Sixty in the 2023 G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).

Ridden patiently by Joao Moreira, Tony Cruz’s quirky chestnut angled into the clear and sprinted hard from the 300m to defeat Light Years Charm (127lb) and Romantic Thor (115lb) in 1m 47.96s.

“I was told he was going to be a difficult horse to ride, however he gave me a beautiful ride. At the 800m, he kind of wanted to play around with me with his head, but I managed to keep him very nicely calm,” Moreira said.

“He had the race won at the last 300m – a long way from home – showing that he’s got so much ability and it’s a shame that he’s already nine-years-old. He’s got heart and I gotta say I’m just so thankful for Tony and his team for giving me another Group race in Hong Kong.

“It’s always a pleasure to be winning Group races anywhere, but Hong Kong is a special place.”

“Last year when he ran this race when he was eight-year-old, I said if he wins, we'll keep going for another season, if we lose we'll retire him,” Cruz said.

“Well, he has won again, and he just said to me it looks like we'll keep going. We'll run one more race (this season) and then make the final decision. At the age of 10, it could be a bit too old for him. He's been a very genuine horse - a very difficult horse to race, but he's got a fighting heart.”

Settling in sixth position, Jimmy Ting-trained Little Paradise (120lb) tracked Winning Ovation (118lb) into the straight before challenging strongly to take the lead at the 100m before holding off Galaxy Patch (135lb), who forged home from the tail of the field by a neck, and Lucky With You (120lb) in a slick 1m 20.38s.

Winner of the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) in February, Little Paradise gave Ting his first Group 3 success and his biggest Hong Kong victory since Amazing Star’s win in the 2021 G2 Sprint Cup (1200m).

Capping a winning double for Ting after triumphing on Come Fast Fay Fay (130lb) made it two wins in a row with success in the Class 4 Emerald Handicap (1400m), Purton notched his fourth Premier Cup victory after saluting on Able One (2008), Beauty Joy (2022) and Beauty Eternal (2023).

“It’s obviously a lucky week for myself and the connections, so it’s good,” Purton said, referring to the 2012 G1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) win at Royal Ascot win of Little Bridge, who was raced by Little Paradise’s owner Ko Kam Piu.

“He’s (Ting) been turning the horse out as well as he can. I’m just happy for him today that the horse got a nice clean run and was able to show what he can do.

“He probably wasn’t at his best today after having that break and just the one trial coming into and he ran good time. So, I think next season, with a break, there’s every chance he could take another step.”

Ting indicated Group 1 targets would be considered.

“I hope that after the break he gets a little bit of improvement, and hopefully the target will be to run in the (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong) Mile (1600m). I still think that 1400m or 1600m is the best distance for this horse, and I hope that he will improve,” he said.

Caspar Fownes consolidated his lead in the trainers’ championship when Winning Machine (134lb) just lasted to clinch the Class 5 Spessartine Garnet Handicap (1400m) under Moreira. Chasing his fifth Hong Kong trainers’ title, Fownes has 63 wins and leads Danny Shum (59), Mark Newnham (58), Francis Lui (54) and David Hayes (52).

Ricky Yiu and Nichola Yuen combined to slot a double, scoring when Rapid Phantom (118lb) – who is co-owned by BMW Hong Kong Derby ambassador Donnie Yen – surged late to claim the Class 4 Ruby Handicap (1000m) before Packing Glory (125lb) finished powerfully to win the second section of the Class 4 Diamond Handicap (1200m).

“A great ride by the jockey - Nichola rode him before, she knows the horse and the horse has improved a lot since the last run,” Yiu said of Rapid Phantom. “Hopefully, I can find another 1000m for him for the rest of the season.”

Yuen was delighted with the double after following Yiu’s instructions perfectly on Packing Glory.

“Before the race, Ricky told me to just aim for Zac - that's the only thing we knew. After the jump, straight away I was just aiming and focusing on where Zac was. He gave me a really good kick and he really hit the line very strong. He's very honest.

“I'm so glad to have ridden a double; riding one for the boss makes it especially meaningful.”

Cody Mo fired in a double as Absolute Heart (134lb) confirmed his promise with an emphatic victory in the first section of the Class 4 Diamond Handicap (1200m) for Derek Leung before Flying Knight (134lb) claimed the Class 4 Topaz Handicap (1600m) under Karis Teetan.

Jerry Chau boosted his hopes of a breakthrough win in the Tony Cruz Award for the leading homegrown jockey when Call Me Magnifique (120lb) clinched the Class 3 Lapiz Lazuli Handicap (2000m) for Shum.

A three-time winner in Australia before export, the gelding earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.

Chicken Dinner (120lb) sealed a treble for Purton by winning the Class 3 Sapphire Handicap (1200m) and earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million before Almighty Lightning (117lb) defied gate 14 and swept to victory in the Class 3 Amethyst Handicap (1400m) for Manfred Man and Andrea Atzeni.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (24 June).

Photo: HKJC