Group 3 racing in Hong Kong continues this Wednesday at Sha Tin when eight runners – headlined by last year’s winner Beauty Waves (135lb) – face off in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) as part of the 10-race public-holiday programme on National Day in Hong Kong.
Trained by Tony Cruz and to be ridden by championship leader Zac Purton from gate two, Beauty Waves faces Invincible Sage (129lb), Raging Blizzard (126lb), Wunderbar (126lb), Fast Network (125lb), Magic Control (124lb), Bottomuptogether (123lb) and Baby Crystal (115lb) in the straight course clash, only three days after My Wish’s coming of age success in Sunday’s (28 September) HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin.
Cruz said: “Beauty Waves is ready for this race. He won it last year. I believe he has a great chance again to repeat that, he’s all set and I have got Zac to ride him. Everything is in place.”
A two-time course and distance winner, five-year-old Beauty Waves faces a similarly sized field to last year, but carries an added 20lb on his back this time after prevailing under 115lb in 2024 by half a length over Magic Control, who he opposes again tomorrow with 124lb assigned in the form of jockey Vincent Ho.
Irish-bred Beauty Waves has won two of his past three starts. The chestnut, who rates a race-topping 114, set a new Happy Valley course record last season, covering 1200m in 1: 08.10s, as he sauntered to success over Tomodachi Kokoroe – who was a smart winner last weekend at Sha Tin in Class 2 over 1200m.
Wunderbar, the only horse to defeat reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) Ka Ying Rising, is back in action first-up for record-breaking trainer John Size. The five-year-old boasts seven career wins from 13 appearances. The gelding by Rich Enuff overcame a setback in early 2024 to add a further three victories to his haul last term.
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“He looks normal. He’s had two trials and in the second one he was fit enough to trial properly. He looks like his normal self and I think he’s going to run well again,” Size said. “The 1000 metres suits him. If he gets any favours he’s going to be in the finish.”
Hugh Bowman links with Wunderbar for Size from draw six, while stablemate Raging Blizzard pairs with Brenton Avdulla in barrier three after finishing sixth behind a runaway Ka Ying Rising first-up in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) under a persistent rainfall at Sha Tin on September 7.
“It was hard to get a good guide on many of the horses because of the conditions and you’re racing against Ka Ying Rising. But the horse seems healthy and well, I think he raced alright on that occasion given most horses have some excuse for the conditions,” Size said.
“He’s done well after that race. I think he should run a good race also. The 1000 metres does look a little bit short for him, but he’s never looked like running 1400 (metres), so we’ll run him in this and see if we can get some prize money.”
Six-time winner Raging Blizzard makes his first start below 1200m tomorrow afternoon, while Size also saddles Gastronomique, Noble Deluxe, Club Ace, Perfect Pairing, Raging Rapids, Mickley and Must Go as the Australian Racing Hall of Famer pursues a record-extending 14th trainers’ championship.
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