Hong Kong runs two Group races over 1000m at Sha Tin each season and trainer Pierre Ng is aiming to sweep both contests with Beauty Waves (131lb) when the smart sprinter lines up in Wednesday’s (1 January, 2025) HK$4.2 million G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m).
One of three entries for Ng across the Group 3 double-header, Beauty Waves showcased serious potential with victory in October’s HK$4.2 million G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin – one of four wins for the speedster in Hong Kong – before he was a luckless sixth in December’s HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
The son of Starspangledbanner boasts a steadily rising rating of 103, and faces five opponents in this week’s Bauhinia Sprint Trophy: Howdeepisyourlove (135lb), Magic Control (125lb), Whizz Kid (122lb), Harmony N Blessed (121lb) and Awesome Treasure (115lb).
Ng is wary of Cody Mo’s Magic Control, who boasts a victory over Wunderbar – the only horse to defeat the Group 1-winning Ka Ying Rising not once but twice. Magic Control has since finished first in a barrier trial by nine lengths over the 1000m turf course at Sha Tin.
“Beauty Waves was a bit unlucky in the straight last start. This time he’s running over 1000 metres. We have Hugh Bowman on him, it’s a small field and hopefully he runs well or can even beat a very good horse – Magic Control,” Ng said. “He’s done well after his last race.”
Wednesday’s card also features the HK$4.2 million G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m), where Ng fields Taj Dragon (120lb) and Drombeg Banner (115lb), as he aims to enhance his championship-leading 26 wins this term.
Taj Dragon won the 2024 running of this race and goes for his seventh course and distance success after finishing 10th in the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) behind Voyage Bubble last outing.
“It’s much more suitable for him to be in Group 3 under handicap conditions. Luckily, we have California Spangle running and carrying top weight, so Taj Dragon carries a lighter weight. Over this distance and with this weight – I think he’ll be very competitive,” Ng said.
California Spangle (135lb), Beauty Joy (129lb), Red Lion (122lb), Healthy Happy (115lb), Patch Of Theta (115lb), Chiu Chow Spirit (115lb), Green N White (115lb), Tomodachi Kokoroe (115lb) and Fantastic Treasure (115lb) round the Chinese Club Challenge Cup field.
Drombeg Banner won first-up this season and shapes as a pace angle from barrier 11 for Ng.
“He’s running really well, especially in his last few races with heavy weights. He gets a light weight now and he’s a good, consistent horse,” Ng said.
Trainer Tony Cruz is weighing up dodging Ka Ying Rising in next month’s HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) by instead stepping back up to the mile for the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) – both races are run on 19 January, 2025 at Sha Tin.
“There’s the mile and the sprint. I might go for the mile instead; we can’t beat Ka Ying Rising. He’s too classy, that horse,” Cruz said. “I’m very happy with him (California Spangle), condition-wise he is very good. I’m happy with everything about him.”
Green N White has five wins over 1400m at Sha Tin and chases a sixth in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup for trainer Ricky Yiu, who said: “It’s a big task for him. He’s out of the handicap, but in saying that, I still think he will run a good race.
“I’m not saying he might win but he will be close, I’m really happy with him.”
Wednesday’s (1 January, 2025) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 12.30pm for the “Lucky Start 2025 Raceday”, where the Triple Trio jackpot is topped up to HK$10 million, while the Six Win Bonus jackpot is topped to HK$3.8 million.
By Declan Schuster
