Locals Purton and Cruz strike in LONGINES Hong Kong Mile

11/12/2016

By Steve Moran

Jockey Zac Purton claimed his second Group 1 prize for the afternoon and training legend Tony Cruz his eighth LONGINES Hong Kong International Races success overall when the much-improved Beauty Only overpowered a high class field in the HK$23 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m).

Beauty Only prevailed by a half-length from Helene Paragon with Joyful Trinity third and Contentment fourth to complete a first four for Hong Kong-trained horses, as was the case earlier in the Hong Kong Sprint which Purton won on Aerovelocity. His HKIR tally is now five.

A fast pace, the first 800 metres in a fraction over 47 seconds, set the race up for the closing horses and the winner was too strong despite Purton fearing he may have had to ‘press the button’ sooner than ideal.

“He was really good today,” Purton said. “I think we’re just starting to see the best of him. He’s always been so honest but now that he’s fully matured and acclimatised we’re really seeing what he can do.

“He is much improved this season and he was very strong out there today. Hughie (Bowman) pushed off the fence about the 700 (metres), which made me have to go a bit earlier than I wanted to but the horse has got a big set of lungs and kept running. We set sail after the leaders and he responded really well. I believe he can stretch out to 2000 (metres) so there was no doubting him being strong at the end of the mile.

“The firm ground suited, the harder the better for him, and so did the good speed,” he added. “We know he does his best now if we let him balance up early.”

Trainer Cruz was perhaps even more effusive than Purton about what the future might hold for the five-year-old who was imported from Italy.

“I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet. From the day we bought him, we had high expectations with him and I’m so pleased to see how he has improved this season. He’s a good horse to handle, a real professional and he’s gone on as we thought he would after winning the lead-up race.

“We’ll generally keep him to local races but I’d look to the Yasuda Kinen in Japan as the mile and the firm ground there is perfect for him,” Cruz said.

Runner-up Helene Paragon confirmed that he is also on the rise after his luckless seventh behind today’s winner in the G2 Jockey Club Mile and rider Hugh Bowman was delighted with his effort.

“I was held up when Zac (Purton) made his run but I still felt I had the horse to peg him back. Look, he was too strong late and although I was held up for a few strides, I had plenty of time. He has a bright future and will be a headline horse here in Hong Kong,” he said.

Helene Paragon’s trainer John Moore, second only to Cruz in the HKIR trainers tally, also had to be content with third prize with Joyful Trinity while stable star and 2014 Hong Kong Mile winner Able Friend was beaten two lengths into sixth place with his interrupted preparation telling in the end.

Jockey Joao Moreira said of Able Friend: “He feels like he needed another run, his lack of fitness told. He should be right on his next run.”