Fourteen years after he landed his first Hong Kong Group One win in the Stewards’ Cup (1,600m), Zac Purton believes Beauty Eternal is capable of breaking through at the top level when the pair team up in this year’s edition of the contest at Sha Tin on Sunday.

After claiming his first Group One win in the city aboard Fellowship in the 2010 renewal of the Stewards’ Cup, Purton has etched his name on the contest’s honour roll twice more thanks to Beauty Generation (2019) and Waikuku (2022).

Even more prolific in the race is John Size with a record seven wins, including that 2022 success with Waikuku, and Purton will combine with the legendary trainer once again in the first Group One of 2024.

The Australian rider hopes Beauty Eternal can take a step forward from his sixth behind Golden Sixty in the Group One Hong Kong Mile.

“We’re hoping for a little bit more than December,” Purton said. “I just got myself into a little bit of an awkward position on him. I was a bit further back than I would’ve preferred to have been.

“In saying that, when he was presented in the straight, he probably should’ve finished it off a bit better than he did. He wanted to travel a little bit too strongly with the slower tempo and I’m sure that had some effect on his performance.”

Arriving at the international meeting on the back of a triumph in November’s Group Two Jockey Club Mile, Beauty Eternal was sent off a well-backed $4.6 chance for his maiden Group One voyage.

After taking a keen hold, the five-year-old’s effort petered out in the final 200m and he finished two lengths behind runner-up Voyage Bubble, with Golden Sixty reigning supreme a further length and a half out in front.

In the absence of Purton – who was enjoying a family holiday in Europe – Brenton Avdulla hopped aboard Beauty Eternal for his past two trials over Sha Tin’s 1,200m all-weather course.

While the six-time champion jockey was unable to continue his union with the son of Starspangledbanner in his recent preparation, Purton said he was pleased with what he saw from afar.

“I haven’t been here for his last two trials, so I can only go on what I see, and it looks like he’s been going well,” Purton said.

“There’s not much between these horses, so it will come down to track bias and tempo of the race. I think he’s capable, but he just needs the right circumstances.”

Purton has to negotiate the widest barrier in the eight-horse field as his mount resumes hostilities with his Hong Kong Derby conqueror Voyage Bubble, who is likely to jump favourite from gate three under James McDonald.

Before the feature, Purton and McDonald will rekindle a battle of their own in the Class Three Bennet’s Hill Handicap (1,200m).

With the final ride of his short-term contract on New Year’s Day, it was McDonald and the Size-trained Wunderbar who narrowly got the upper hand over Purton and the David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising in a ding-dong battle up the Sha Tin straight.

Ka Ying Rising will have a three-pound swing in his favour this time around and Purton is hopeful he can reverse the form from barrier 10.

Who can wrest spotlight off city’s big three in Golden Sixty’s absence?

“I worked him the other morning and he feels like he’s come through his run really well,” Purton said.

“There was no disgrace in his performance last time. We drew well clear from the rest of the field and the winner was lucky to get a split up on the fence – normally they don’t get through.

“I think he will continue to improve. He’s still got room to fill out and strengthen up a little bit. He’s an exciting horse going forward.”