Zac Purton admits he was pleasantly surprised with Beauty Only’s strong return to racing earlier this month, but the jockey hopes that the reigning Champion Miler is able to take another step towards his Hong Kong Mile defence with victory in Sunday’s (22 October) G2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m).

Under top weight of 133lb, Beauty Only rattled home from near last to finish fifth, beaten two lengths, in the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) first-up. He is saddled with 133lb yet again on Sunday, but Purton believes he strikes a more suitable race with the step up to a mile.

“He had a big weight against a lot of nice young horses, the tempo was really slow, the track had a bit of cut in it, so he had a lot against him,” Purton said at Sha Tin on Friday morning (20 October). “And yet, with all that against him, he still ran a great race. I didn’t know what to expect first-up, his trial wasn’t flash, but then he ran strongly on raceday – it was a nice surprise.

“If he can find that again, he will be a chance on Sunday because he should find more things in his favour.”

Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Only has placed in this race the last two years, finishing second to Contentment in 2015 before filling third behind now-retired Designs On Rome and Blazing Speed last year, and Purton believes the six-year-old will be around the mark yet again, despite drawing gate 12.

“There’s no doubt he’s going to run a good race, he’s a very honest horse,” the rider said. “He always gives his best and performs well, so that always gives some confidence. The barrier hasn’t really helped us, so we just have to hope that the tempo is even and that we are able to make up ground on the day. If those things happen, he will get his chance.”

Among those resuming in Sunday’s feature is last season’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) runner-up Secret Weapon (130lb), with Nash Rawiller returning to his back.

Trainer Dennis Yip’s seven-year-old has not raced since finishing sixth to Neorealism in the G1 APQEII Cup (2000m) in April, but Rawiller thinks that he is in even better shape now.

“He’s really well, he had a couple of issues at the end of last season but he’s returned in great order,” Rawiller said. “Dennis has obviously got December in mind, but on the track he’s working as good as I’ve ever felt him go.”

Rawiller says that Sunday’s mile contest is a stepping stone for Secret Weapon, with his first priority a defence of his G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) title before he aims to go one better at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races in December.

“Sunday is not his type of race, he’s probably going to get back a little bit from the gate (nine),” he said. “If we can save a bit of ground coming between them, though, he might be able to have the last shot and prove competitive. He’s still not fully fit, though, so I think he’s going to need the run ahead of the two 2000m features.”

Also set to line up in the Sha Tin Trophy are three of Beauty Only’s stablemates – Giant Treasure (122lb), Winner’s Way (117lb) and Romantic Touch (114lb) – as well as a John Moore-prepared sextet, headed by 2015/16 Horse of the Year Werther (132lb) and LONGINES Hong Kong Mile placegetters Helene Paragon (133lb) and Joyful Trinity (130lb).

Beauty Generation (118lb), Booming Delight (113lb) and Harbour Master (113lb) also represent Moore, while the field is completed by John Size’s Western Express (113lb) and Jolly Banner (113lb) for Ricky Yiu.

The G2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) is scheduled as the eighth of 10 races and is set to jump at 4.40pm, with the day’s other feature, the G2 Premier Bowl (1200m), scheduled for 4.10pm.