Aurora Lady and Beauty Destiny are two of this season’s success stories at Happy Valley and, on Wednesday, the duo clashes for a second time in a hotly contested HK$2.84 million Class 2 Sports Handicap.
Aurora Lady (Mickael Barzalona) at the 2024 LONGINES IJC (Pic – HKJC)
Both four-time winners at city circuit this term, Aurora Lady and Beauty Destiny have consistently raised the bar throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
The pair met last December for the only time with Aurora Lady successful over a fast-closing Beauty Destiny by a short head.
Pierre Ng trains Aurora Lady, who will be ridden by James Orman from barrier one. Beauty Destiny pairs with trusted accomplice Andrea Atzeni for trainer Frankie Lor in stall 10.
Atzeni, who coincidentally rode both horses to their last-start victories, said: “They’re two completely different horses. Aurora Lady has beaten me before but only because the two of them race differently – one goes forward and one goes back.
“Aurora Lady is obviously going to get his chance because he jumps and gives himself that opportunity by going forward to lead or sit second. With my horse, Beauty Destiny, he’s a horse who you can’t force early and he needs luck in running. He might be the better horse but he does need more luck than Aurora Lady.”
Son Pak Fu (135lb), Full Credit (130lb), Brave Star (126lb), Superb Capitalist (125lb), Swift Ascend (124lb), Harmony N Blessed (123lb), Gustosisimo (121lb), Stellar Express (121lb), Bundle Of Charm (120lb) and Wings Of War (119lb) complete the quality line-up, which has collectively accumulated 21 wins this season from 10 of the 12 runners in total.
Beauty Destiny continues to lift his game at Happy Valley (Pic – HKJC)
Since reverting to being ridden conservatively, Beauty Destiny has thrived and he will aim to continue a productive season when he makes the leap in class on Wednesday evening.
“Beauty Destiny has been very consistent but he’s up into Class 2 now and against a very competitive field. Stepping up to Class 2, I was thinking hopefully there aren’t too many runners but it’s a very tough field – horses who are competitive and winning at the level,” Atzeni said.
“He’s going to have to up his game again but he’s done nothing wrong so far and he’s entitled to take his chance.”
Hailing from Sardinia, Italy, Atzeni partners Ng’s Johannes Brahms in Sunday’s (23 March) HK$26 million 148th BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin. Atzeni and Ng teamed with Ka Ying Generation to finish third in the 2024 running of the race.
“Johannes Brahms a good ride to get. It looks like a very competitive field and a very open race but he has the form in the book,” Atzeni said.
Johannes Brahms is a two-time winner in Hong Kong. The 95-rating Siyouni gelding finished third in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup last start behind Rubylot and My Wish, both of whom reoppose in Sunday’s blue riband at Sha Tin.
Lyle Hewitson rides Full Credit from barrier seven in Happy Valley’s finale. Mark Newnham’s consistent Va Pensiero galloper has won once this season and placed six times over a variety of course and distances.
“I think he’s shown his versatility – he’s run well at Happy Valley and Sha Tin, on the turf and the dirt, and over the 1000m or 1200m,” Hewitson said.
“His only go at Happy Valley, I thought, was a decent effort. He was pressured getting to the lead and he had to do quite a bit of work. He was there for a long time, he looked good at the top of the straight and he was only collared late.
“He should be better for that experience and he’s maintained a good level of form.”
Wednesday’s nine-race fixture at Happy Valley commences at 12h35 with the Class 5 Bowrington Handicap.
