WA-bred expat Beauty Joy won a second G3 Premier Plate (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday to improve his Hong Kong record to 8 wins in 56 starts since arriving from Perth with an unbeaten record in August 2020.
Beauty Joy (9g Sebring – Impressive Jeuney by Jeune) was ridden patiently by Joao Moreira before angling into the clear and then clicking up a gear to defeat Light Years Charm (Rubick) and Romantic Thor (Justify).
Victory in the final Group race of the Hong Kong season saw his earnings break through HK40 million (AUD 8.65 million) for trainer Tony Cruz and owners Simon and Eleanor Kwok. He’s the first 9 year-old to snare a Group race in Hong Kong since Able One won the G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) in 2011.
“He gave me a beautiful ride,” Moreira said. “At the half-mile, he wanted to play around but I managed to keep him calm. He had the race won a long way from home. He’s got so much ability and I’m just so thankful for Tony and his team for giving me another Group race victory in Hong Kong.
“It’s always a pleasure to be winning Group races anywhere but Hong Kong is a very special place.”
Cruz indicated a decision will be made on his future after the current season concludes at Happy Valley on July 15. “It looks like we will keep going. I said the same thing before winning last year’s Premier Plate. He’s been a very genuine horse with a fighting heart but he could be a bit too old as a 10 year-old next season.”
Beauty Joy (Photo / HKJC) raced as Talladega in Perth where he remained unbeaten in four starts culminating with a Listed victory in the John Roberts Quality (1800m) at Ascot before shipping off-shore.
Bred by Impressive Racing’s Kevin Berry and Darren McAuliffe, he’s a son of former Widden Stud sire Sebring from Impressive Jeuney who relocated to WA after making $27,000 as a foal from Newhaven Park at the 2007 Magic Millions National Sale.
Impressive Jeuney paid that back and more winning the G3 WA Oaks, LR Natasha Stakes, LR La Trice Classic and LR WA St Leger. Her yearling colt by Ridgeport Stud sire Aysar (Deep Field) is with Port Kennedy trainer Summer Dickson.
