Beauty Legacy makes first start in Hong Kong

Beauty Legacy brings a hefty reputation to his Hong Kong debut in Sunday’s $269,600 Broadwood Handicap at seven furlongs on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse.

In early 2019, Beauty Legacy won the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at seven furlongs and was later third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas and seventh in the All-Star Mile at Flemington Racecourse when racing under the name Hawkshot.

Beauty Legacy had his name changed when he was transferred to Hong Kong, arriving at trainer John Size’s stable in July.

The circumstances are similar for Helena Baby, who won 5 of 9 starts in New Zealand, including the Opunake Cup last July. Helena Baby was later third in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy at seven furlongs last August before joining trainer John Moore’s stable in late September.

The Broadwood Handicap is not the primary goal for Beauty Legacy and Helena Baby, who are likely to benefit from a chance to acclimate to racing in Hong Kong. Still, they will be well regarded. Beauty Legacy will carry 129 pounds, four more than Helena Baby.

The 130-pound topweights are Decrypt and Fortune Booth.

Decrypt will have his second start in Hong Kong on Sunday, having finished a troubled third in a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on Dec. 15. Decrypt, trained by Frankie Lor, closed with interest despite racing in traffic in the stretch and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

Decrypt was third in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas last May in his final start in Ireland.

Fortune Booth, trained by Moore, won a handicap on Sha Tin’s infield dirt course last April, but is winless in three subsequent starts. Fortune Booth was sixth in a six-furlong handicap on dirt on Dec. 1, in his first start since June.

Fortune Booth is winless in seven career starts on turf at Sha Tin, and is winless in his last 12 starts, which includes races at Happy Valley Racecourse, Hong Kong’s other track.

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