Tony Cruz has declared his satisfaction with Beauty Waves as the chestnut gets ready for Sunday’s (6 September) G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand), aiming to become Hong Kong racing’s third winner of the dash after Super Jockey (2016) and Self Improvement (2025).

Having travelled to Seoul, South Korea last Tuesday (25 August) along with Manfred Man’s Self Improvement and Danny Shum’s Gorgeous Win – fellow Korea Sprint competitors – Group 3 winner Beauty Waves is the ideal horse to take overseas, according to Cruz, who has previously saddled big-race winners in Japan and Dubai.

“I’m very happy with his travelling. He’s very good. He’s got a great temperament. Nothing excites him, he’s such a calm horse,” Cruz said. “He should be losing weight but he’s putting it all back on. His trial showed me that he is in form already.”

Beauty Waves will jump from gate 13 in Sunday’s race, while Self Improvement and Gorgeous Win drew gates nine and 16, respectively.

Beauty Waves trialled on the morning of his departure on the dirt, finishing first over 1050m in 1m 03.21s (17.1, 23, 23.1) under Jerry Chau, who partners the six-year-old in South Korea and seeks back-to-back wins following his success aboard Self Improvement.

Beauty Waves has made only one start on the dirt in Hong Kong (when third), but his experience on the dirt in training is significant, finishing first in 15 previous barrier trials on the dirt at Sha Tin and Conghua since he arrived from Ireland in early 2023.

“It’s the first time (for me travelling a horse to South Korea). The owner wants to go there, that’s why we decided to go there,” Cruz said. “The horse won on the Polytrack in Ireland and, on top of that, he’s been winning trials here on the dirt in Hong Kong, so I think he will handle it.

“He’ll be galloping on Thursday (3 September) and he’ll get used to it. When he was in Ireland, he was also racing left-hand, so that will help him. So, it’s not a big deal, because it’s not the first time (for him) on a left-hand course.”

The Korea Sprint has been won four times by horses from Japan, while South Korea, like Hong Kong, has two wins across the race’s eight renewals since its inception in 2016. Japan is represented with two runners – Dragon Welds and American Stage – this Sunday.

Cruz said: “In Korea, the Japanese horses are very good. These are my main opposition, I would say.”

The G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) will be simulcast in Hong Kong on Sunday (6 September) and is expected to start at 3.20pm (Hong Kong time).

By Declan Schuster

Photo: HKJC