Trainer Pierre Ng is weighing the prospects of entering Beauty Waves in the highly anticipated G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin, with a decision expected following the horse’s performance this weekend. The sprinter is set to compete in a Class 2 contest on the dirt track over 1200 metres, which will act as a critical test before confirming participation in the elite international event scheduled for 27 April.
This weekend’s run holds significant importance as Beauty Waves is under consideration to face an exceptionally strong line-up in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, which includes standout names from both local and international circuits. Among them are established stars like Ka Ying Rising and Invincible Sage, along with notable challengers from Japan and fellow Hong Kong contenders. Ng emphasized that this outing would serve as more than just a preparation—it’s a gauge of the horse’s current form and readiness for a much more competitive test.
Beauty Waves comes into this dirt sprint with mixed recent form, having previously finished mid-field in a Group 1 contest behind the in-form Ka Ying Rising earlier this year. The gelding, however, has shown his quality in past performances, including a Group 3 win on National Day, which adds to his credibility. Jockey Alexis Badel will guide him from gate seven, with the weight allocation suggesting a balanced but competitive scenario, especially with Copartner Prance lining up in the same race.
The gelding, sired by Starspangledbanner, has yet to race on the Sha Tin dirt track but brings a win on Polytrack in Ireland to his name, offering some optimism about his adaptability. That overseas success came under his former name, Starspangledwaves, before transitioning to Hong Kong racing. Ng hopes this experience will translate into a solid showing as the team evaluates whether the colt is primed for a return to Group 1 company.
In another high-profile engagement this weekend, Zac Purton takes the reins on John Size-trained Bundle Award, who is looking to bounce back from a Derby effort last month. The talented galloper faces a deep field in the 1800m Class 2 Hong Kong Lions Cup Handicap. While the Derby result was below expectations, Bundle Award had scored impressively at this distance in his prior outing, raising hopes for a return to top form. Purton, who is chasing a milestone of nine consecutive 100-win seasons, expressed confidence in the gelding’s prospects given his favorable draw and lighter weight.
The meeting will see Purton team up with several other mounts, including the consistent Bottomuptogether, as he aims to widen his lead in the jockeys’ standings. With 92 wins to his credit so far, the reigning champion continues to demonstrate remarkable consistency and will be a key figure across Sunday’s 10-race programme, which begins with the Class 5 Luk Wu Handicap on the all-weather track.
As decisions loom for Beauty Waves and opportunities beckon for rising talent like Bundle Award, the weekend promises both clarity and excitement for fans and connections alike at Sha Tin.
