Zac Purton chases fifth G2 Sha Tin Trophy on Beauty Eternal

By Leo Schlink

Bidding for a record-extending fifth win in the HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (13 October), Zac Purton hopes Beauty Eternal’s class will prove decisive against quality opposition headed by fellow Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble and Galaxy Patch.

Successful in the Sha Tin Trophy with Ambitious Dragon (2012), Military Attack (2014), Beauty Generation (2018) and California Spangle (2022), Purton hopes Beauty Eternal can join an honour roll which also features Viva Pataca (2008), Gold-Fun (2013), Designs On Rome (2016) and Golden Sixty (2020).

“He (Beauty Eternal) has got better with every trial. His last trial, I thought, was decent enough. He's ready to go to the races, obviously he has to give some weight away being a Group 1 winner,” Purton said.

Winner of the G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) on 28 April, John Size-trained Beauty Eternal (131lb) will face Voyage Bubble (135lb), Beauty Joy (129lb), Galaxy Patch (129lb), Red Lion (126lb), Straight Arron (125lb), Happy Together (120lb), Chancheng Glory (115lb), La City Blanche (115lb) and The Golden Scenery (115lb) on Sunday.

“It's a starting point for him (Beauty Eternal) and John wouldn't be taking him to the races if he didn't have him in some type of competitive shape, which he should be, and hopefully he can start off on the right foot and go on with it,” Purton said.

“I'm happy with him. He's going to get better, but I'm happy with where he's at.”

Purton has ridden Beauty Eternal in all of the gelding’s 17 Hong Kong starts, posting nine wins and six minor placings for earnings of HK$35.75 million and the Sha Tin Trophy is likely to be followed by tilts at the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on 17 November and the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 8 December.

Leading the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 20 wins from Hugh Bowman (13), Purton has a full book of 10 rides on Sunday highlighted by the return of last start winner Wunderbar, a stablemate of Beauty Eternal.

Size-trained Wunderbar chases his sixth win at his seventh start when he contests the Class 2 Artistic Gymnastics And Triathlon Handicap (1200m) against a string of quality rivals including Son Pak Fu, Bundle Of Charm, Atullibigeal, Superb Capitalist, Call Me Glorious, Gorgeous Win, Sing Dragon and Bottomuptogether.

Following his treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (9 October), Purton travelled to Conghua this morning to partner Ka Ying Rising in a 1200m trial. Last season’s Hong Kong Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse, Ka Ying Rising was placed under no pressure in clocking 1m 11.19s to defeat Six Pack and Samarkand.

Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising has not raced since his emphatic win in the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on 8 September, when he carried a race record 135lb to victory under Purton.

The four-year-old is being prepared for the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on 20 October and the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on 17 November in preparation for the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 8 December.

Sunday’s (13 October) Hong Kong, China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Team Celebration Raceday starts with the Class 4 (Restricted) Swimming Handicap (1200m) at 12.35pm.