Tony Cruz has edged higher into Hong Kong's pantheon of racing immortals by becoming only the third trainer to post 1,000 winners at Sha Tin, joining fellow legends John Moore and John Size in a select club after Circuit Stellar's success in the Class 2 Belcher Bay (1400m) on Sunday.
Joining Moore (1,204) and Size (1,104) as the only trainers to reach the 1,000-win mark at Sha Tin, 66-year-old Cruz took his total number of Hong Kong victories to 1,442 – a tally bettered by only Moore (1,735) and Size (1,449).
Zac Purton, who partnered Circuit Stellar to the landmark triumph, described Cruz – a six-time Hong Kong champion jockey and dual Hong Kong champion trainer – as “the biggest personality and the biggest legend in Hong Kong.”
“He's had an amazing career – he's a legend of Hong Kong racing, really. He's home-grown, came through the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentices' School, he was champion jockey in Hong Kong and rode all over the world, for the Queen and the Aga Khan, and won some big races,” Purton said.
“He then turned his hand to training and he's been equally impressive – he's won every big race here – and in every season, he's right up in the top echelon of the trainers. He's very consistent and he always turns his horses out well. I enjoy riding for him and the best way to sum him up is that he's the biggest personality and the biggest legend in Hong Kong.”
Virtually a permanent fixture in the top five of the Hong Kong trainers' championship, Cruz rode 946 wins as a jockey before taking out a trainer's licence.
“It's good to achieve that milestone because Sha Tin is one of the safest race tracks in the world, it's the fairest track in the world – it's the best track in the world – because every horse gets a chance,” Cruz said. “It's a good milestone and I hope to get another thousand here in Sha Tin, too.”
An exhilarating performance by Size-trained Beauty Eternal in the Class 3 Des Voeux Handicap (1400m) gave Purton a treble while enhancing the lightly-raced gelding's claims for the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 19 March.
Restrained into third place behind Master Hero and Majestic Colour after leading early, Beauty Eternal fanned three-wide under Purton when the field straightened for the run in and was never extended in clocking the fastest winning 400m sectional of the day (22.52s).
“It was a nice win, he drew a good gate (barrier one) and he's getting better every start. Today, we wanted to get some cover because if you want to get him out over further, you need to teach him to be a proper racehorse,” Purton said on reaching 90 winners for the season.
“I was happy when a couple went forward around us and we were in a lovely rhythm all the way and he enjoyed it.”
Size indicated the son of Starspangledbanner would bypass the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) – the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – and was non-committal about a Hong Kong Derby start.
“We'll go race by race, now we have got to absorb what happened today and see how he does in the next week and see what we can do to get him ready for the next race. We'll keep asking him and if he keeps going the right way and he's willing to do it and he keeps improving, we'll just keep going and see where we end up,” the 11-time Hong Kong champion trainer said.
Purton earlier continued to stamp his authority on the 2022/23 Hong Kong jockeys' championship by partnering impressive newcomer Laser Victory to debut success in the Class 4 Ko Shing Handicap (1200m) for Jamie Richards.
“He's a promising horse, he's arrived in good order, he's trialled up well and he did a good job today,” Richards said of the Brazen Beau three-year-old. “It's tough for a first timer to be used at both ends like that. To use the speed from the barrier (gate 12) to lead and then to find another good kick, I thought it was an encouraging way to start things off today,” Richards said.
“Of course, you do worry (about the wide barrier), but thankfully Zac had been riding him in his trials and he was happy to ride him today. I'd like to give a big thank you to the owner Dr Henry Chan who placed the horse in our stable. He's come through David Price's system in Australia.”
Ricky Yiu's Adefill demolished the opposition to win the Class 4 Lyttelton Handicap (1200m, dirt) under Karis Teetan in one of the most clearcut victories of the season.
“I didn't realise I was so far in front,” Teetan said of Adefill's six and a quarter length margin. “I could hear the other jockeys calling out behind me, but it wasn't until I looked at the replay on the big screen that I realised he had won by as far.”
Harry Bentley's strength was pivotal in Flying Dragon's slender win in the Class 3 Cleverly Handicap (1200m, dirt) for Dennis Yip as David Hall lauded Hugh Bowman after the unflappable Australian's trademark patience enabled Aca Power to win the Class 5 Sutherland Handicap (1200m).
“It was a beautifully executed ride by Hugh, he does it time and time again,” Hall said. “The horse is honest and consistent and deserved the win.”
Michael Chang posted his seventh win of the season when Angus Chung guided Star Of Glory to victory in the Class 5 Wing Lok Handicap (1600m) before Run Run Buddy controlled the tempo under Derek Leung before winning the second section of the Class 4 Rumsey Handicap (1400m) for Frankie Lor.
Leung added to his haul when Owners' Praise unleashed a devastating sprint to land the Class 4 Rumsey Handicap (1400m) for Chris So before crowning a wonderful day – and a treble – when Peter Ho-trained Woodfire Bro prevailed in a dramatic finish to the Class 3 Hillier Handicap (1800m).
“I'm very lucky today and very happy to have the support of the owners and trainers,” Leung said. “I had some decent chances today and it's worked out really well. Hopefully, I can keep it going.”