Beauty Eternal takes his chance at becoming the fifth horse to record consecutive wins in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (27 April).
Aiming to join Bullish Luck (2005 & 2006), Xtension (2011 & 2012), Beauty Generation (2018 & 2019) and Golden Sixty (2021-2023), Beauty Eternal is also shooting for a first success since capturing his initial Group 1 in this race in 2024 for trainer John Size.
Beauty Eternal has won nine times in Hong Kong and missed in the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) by a head to Voyage Bubble, whom he reopposes. Size’s chestnut gelding led throughout to win last year’s FWD Champions Mile over Golden Sixty on rain affected ground.
“He seems normal and I expect him to run a good race,” Size said.
“He’s been good. He’s in pretty good shape. I think, last start, there were a few horses with excuses in that race and he was probably one of them. He seemed to run reasonably well, he has pulled up well afterwards and his trials have been fine.”
Sporting Patrick Kwok’s familiar black, pink and white silks, Beauty Eternal finished 10th behind 33/1 winner Straight Arron in the HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m), while stablemate Red Lion, who was second to Beauty Eternal in the 2024 FWD Champions Mile, finished sixth in that same Group 2 race on 30 March at Sha Tin.
“He’s (Red Lion) very tough and he enjoys his racing. Since he’s been running against the good horses, he’s strengthened and he’s very consistent,” Size said.
Red Lion has 13 top-three finishes and seldom runs a bad race. He has placed three times at Group 1 level since first contesting the elite bracket in March of 2024. He is owned by The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s former Chairman Ronald Arculli and his wife Johanna.
Helios Express is yet to win this season but the Toronado galloper is enjoying a superb campaign with six placings – including three runner-up efforts – from six appearances. His earnings top HK$36.85 million, including an added HK$13.78 million in 2024/25. He lines up in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) against Ka Ying Rising, who has had his measure this term and is currently on an 11-race unbeaten streak.
“He’s fine. It’s a big field this weekend but his form has been faultless. He just keeps running the same race all the time and hopefully he’ll continue with that until the end of the season. He’s doing his best and he’s running up to his rating each time,” Size said.
Helios Express races for Andy Yung, son of prominent owner Larry Yung who won the Hong Kong Derby with Oriental Express (1997) and Olympic Express (2002).
Ensued was second two runs back in the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on 23 February behind Voyage Bubble. The son of late sire Lemon Drop Kid grabbed fourth in the 2024 HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
“It’s an interesting race for Ensued. I think there’s some big reputations in this race but I think he’s run well in Hong Kong and at the International Races. I’ll be hoping he does it again and gets some good prize money,” said Australian Racing Hall of Famer Size of his HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) runner.
Goliath, Prognosis, Tastiera, Liberty Island, El Vencedor and Calif have made the journey from overseas to contest the FWD QEII Cup. Size leads the 2024/25 trainers’ championship on 50 wins in a bid to win it for a record-extending 13th time. He is the triumphant of 1,593 races in Hong Kong after arriving in the city for the 2001/02 racing season, when he broke new ground by collecting a first trainers’ title in his maiden campaign.
Andrea Atzeni rides Beauty Eternal from gate five, Hugh Bowman is on Red Lion (barrier 12) and Helios Express (13), while Brenton Avdulla partners with Ensued (four).
Sunday’s (27 April) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 12.45pm with the Class 4 FWD Insurance ACT Private Handicap (1800m). The HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) headline the programme.
By Declan Schuster
