As Jungle Magnate, the 4 year old gelding that made a winning debut at his new home in Shatin last Sunday and known as Beautyverse, is known best for winning the South Australian Derby when ridden by Mark Zahra, who a week ago rode the winner of the Melbourne Cup.
Ridden on Sunday by Zac Purton and despite being drawn out wide, it might have looked like a tight win, but when really looking at the win, Beautyverse, on the inside, won with, as they say, plenty of authority, and plenty in hand.
Having watched Trainer Tony Cruz at the races over the years, seldom has he been seen leading in one of his charges so excitedly.
He was happily shuffling around and speaking animatedly to owner Patrick Kwok, son of Simon and Eleanor Kwok, whose SaSa empire sponsored the afternoon’s Ladies Purse Day.
That win in the last race of the day had quite a few side stories. It gave the Zac Attack another string to his constantly expanding bow of rides destined for Group successes and more prize money.
Same for Tony Cruz who already has a future superstar in California Spangle.
Even a blind man could see that the combination of trainer and jockey click extremely well and that Team Kwok has a very good new addition to their equine portfolio.
Whatever some might think of her dress sense, Eleanor Kwok is a fabulously colourful character.
She loves her SaSa Ladies Purse Day and pulls out all the stops to make the day a highlight of the Hong Kong racing calendar.
So what if she often wears what looks like a ice cream cake on her head and had many raising eyebrows with her lipstick inspired trophy on Sunday which went viral. Whatever...Winners are grinners.
Eleanor Kwok and her family have invested and given much to Hong Kong racing including champion miler Beauty Generation now enjoying his retirement at Living Legends.
What some might not know is the rags to riches Hong Kong success story of the Kwoks who started their cosmetics business in 1978 with a small counter at Daimaru in Causeway Bay.
Today, their SaSa brand has well over 250 outlets with their “Beauty” brand of equine talent spread around many stables.
With under SaSa being the Eleanor brand, one can’t but help wondering when the Kwoks might considering getting behind race days that are a celebration of Hong Kong ladies.
