It is now or never for Derek Leung Ka-chun as he looks to Beauty Joy to be the catalyst to spark his fading Tony Cruz Award hopes back to life at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The 36-year-old is in a three-way shoot-out for the local riders’ premiership, with Matthew Poon Ming-fai leading the way on 36 and Matthew Chadwick sitting second on 34.
Leung has two meetings to claw back three winners to draw level with Poon, with his Sunday book of eight rides looking the strongest of the trio.
He rides Beauty Joy in the feature Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (1,600m), with the Tony Cruz-trained eight-year-old looking to back up a last-start win in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m).
The old boy, Beauty Joy! 🫡
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 22, 2025
Tony Cruz's 8YO wins the season's final Group race, the G3 Premier Plate, with @brentonavdulla at Sha Tin... @Beautystablehk #SummerSeries | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ESTzUq2dEQ
Ridden that day by Brenton Avdulla, he surged down the middle of the track and went from almost last to first, beating several reopposing horses including last year’s winner Chancheng Glory.
Leung also rides Rainbow Seven, who has finished in the top three in all of his racecourse starts, in the Class Four Victory Marvel Handicap (1,200m), and Smart Fat Cat, who has surged home in both his starts so far and is a leading chance in the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m).
Of his rivals, Poon’s best chance comes in the form of debut winner Voyage Boss, who had excuses last start and is a big shout in the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m), while Chadwick will be hoping a rejuvenated Devas Twelve can provide him with a winner in the Class Four Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,400m).
John Size holds all the aces in the trainers' premiership race.
Heading into Sha Tin, John Size holds a likely insurmountable six-win lead over David Hayes in the trainers’ premiership race, with both holding leading chances in many of Sunday’s races.
Size has a trio in the feature Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy thanks to Beauty Eternal, Bundle Award and Young Champion, though Mickley – who was second in the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) – looks to be his best chance on the card down in grade for the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m).
Awesome Treasure, armed with Britney Wong Po-ni’s 10lb claim, looks to be Hayes’ best chance in the Class Four Big Profit Handicap (1,200m) from a good draw in stall five.
