Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (June 25) for a 10-race fixture highlighted by the running of the Group 3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) and the Group 3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m).
On the under-card, thriving four-year-old GOLDEN EXPRESS is on track to achieve four consecutive wins when competing in the Class 2 Handicap over 1200m.
The talent trained by John Size has demonstrated ability since his debut in late November. He finished in second and third place in his first two starts and encountered bad luck with a fifth-place finish, narrowly beaten by 0.75 lengths, in his third outing.
Since then, GOLDEN EXPRESS has been on an impressive winning streak, effortlessly claiming victory in his last three races. In his previous two wins, he secured winning margins of 1.75 lengths, and in his most recent triumph, he pulled ahead by a commanding 2.75 lengths.
GOLDEN EXPRESS has shown no signs of regression, as evidenced by his recent trial win, where he performed well. Clearly standing out in this week’s race, GOLDEN EXPRESS should easily outperform his rivals and continue his winning streak.
It could be a big day for Size, who sends out a strong team of runners as he aims to stave off former assistant-trainer Frankie Lor, who is hot on his heels, in the race for this season’s champion trainer title.
Smart four-year-old BEAUTY ETERNAL is another of the legendary trainer’s top hopes, who is chasing back-to-back Group Three victories in Sunday’s Premier Cup Handicap (1400m).
Since debuting in early October last year, BEAUTY ETERNAL has graced the winner’s enclosure a total of six times out of nine starts, with his rating soaring from 52 to a current mark of 112 – now firmly in the upper echelon of Hong Kong’s best horses.
The Starspangledbanner gelding was last seen claiming his first Group race success in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) on June 4, easily accounting for his rivals as he drew clear by 1.25 lengths for a comfortable win.
The winner of this race last year, BEAUTY JOY, lines up to defend his crown and remains in good form after finishing in the placings in his last four runs, while RED LION warrants plenty of respect after turning the tables on stablemate BEAUTY ETERNAL two starts ago at this track and distance.
