Winning Ovation Eyes Stunning Comeback in Lion Rock Trophy

Twelve months after being struck down by a tendon injury, Winning Ovation can complete a stunning comeback with a feature victory in Sunday’s Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin. Shortly after a strong win on his second local start, the British import suffered the major setback which effectively ruled him out of this season’s Classic Series. The injury didn’t halt his momentum when he made his long-awaited return, with the Tony Cruz-trained gelding leading all the way for a stylish triumph first up in March. He has since recorded another two wins, with a close second to Mugen when trapped wide without cover throughout the only blemish to his record this term. With his rating soaring to 100, Winning Ovation will be thrust into Group company for the first time when he takes on emerging star Sky Jewellery and Group One performers Sunlight Power and Beauty Joy on Sunday. “He came back from the tendon injury from last season and he’s come on very good. I’m very happy with him,” Cruz said. “We always rated him highly from day one. He’s got good potential, this horse. This time he’s stepping up to a mile as there’s nowhere else to go. “Obviously Sky Jewellery is the main opposition in the race – he’s a very nice horse. But I think my horse will be very close in the finish.” Zac Purton will again ride Winning Ovation, who jumps from barrier three in the competitive field of nine. John Size’s Sky Jewellery will bid for a fourth straight victory since returning from his own setback – bleeding from both nostrils after a trial last November, which led to a three-month ban from racing. A two-time winner of the Lion Rock Trophy, Cruz will also be represented by Stunning Peach and Beauty Joy in the HK$4.2 million race on Sunday. Stunning Peach drops back in trip after running fifth to Romantic Thor in the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) last start. The Irish import returned to winning form with back-to-back Class Two triumphs, scoring over 1,600m in February and 1,800m the following month. “I think a mile will suit him. He’s got a good draw in gate four, so I believe he will also be close in the finish,” Cruz said. Angus Chung Yik-lai will again ride Stunning Peach, while Brenton Avdulla hops aboard Beauty Joy for what is expected to be his penultimate start before retirement. Beauty Joy has been a consistent campaigner in Hong Kong with four feature wins, including the 2022 Lion Rock Trophy, three Group One placings and HK$37.1 million in prize money. “This is his last season. After this he’s got one race left before he is retired. He’ll be a nine-year-old next season,” Cruz said. Beauty Joy has drawn the outside in barrier nine. Copartner Prance, Chancheng Glory, Light Years Charm and Patch Of Cosmo also feature in the Lion Rock Trophy field. In Sunday’s other Group Three, the Sha Tin Vase (1,200m), Cruz has Beauty Waves chasing his first feature success for the stable. The son of Starspangledbanner won last season’s Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) for his former trainer, Pierre Ng Pang-chi, and has added victories in a pair of Happy Valley Class Two sprints and a Class One down the Sha Tin straight since joining Cruz’s yard. He will be out to bounce back from running last of seven behind Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) last start, in which he blundered shortly after jumping.