Former Irish trained Beauty Smile wins HK$3 million at Sha Tin

The Year of the Ox got underway with the Chinese New Year Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong

THE reinvented Beauty Smile took the Chinese New Year Cup at Sha Tin last Sunday 14 February in the Grade 1 flat race on 1,400 meters of turf with Matthew Chadwick onboard.

The four-year-old outpaced the rest of the field while working a distance he had first taken on as a two-year-old when he raced as Justifier for the Meath Ireland trainer Ger Lyons. The rechristened Beauty Smile took seven starts to get going in Hong Kong but after breaking through with a Class 2 win, again over 1,400m at Sha Tin last January former Tony Cruz apprentice Matthew Chadwick had his winning ride and the HK$ 3 million in prize money home and dry.

Jockey Matthew Chadwick gives Beauty Smile a pat after winning the Chinese New Year Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong

“We came with a lot of confidence, just stepping up (to Group 1),” said Tony Cruz after the race. “He (Beauty Smile) is in good form. He is going well. There is another run in March over 1,400m (and) he is eligible for that. I think I might go that way.”

Tony Cruz had previously won the Chinese New Year Cup in 2013 with retired racehorse Penglai Xianzi.

Beauty Smile owner representative Dr Simon Kwok (left) and jockey Matthew Chadwick in the winners circle after winning the Chinese New Year Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong

Jockey Matthew Chadwick finished the start of the Year of the Ox at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong with a double after winning the Class 3 1,200m Good Fortune Handicap for Dennis Yip.

“He (Matthew Chadwick) rode a perfect race,” added Tony Cruz. “He is riding with confidence now, especially on this horse (Beauty Smile).”