Jack Dawling selects the horse, trainer and jockey to watch on National Day at Sha Tin.
Horse to watch
Akashvani
Lyle Hewitson/David Hayes, Race 9,Shanghai Handicap, Class 3, 1,200m
Akashvani is ready to run a big race second-up (SING TAO)
Akashvani followed a possible 2026 Hong Kong Classic Mile contender home at Sha Tin on the opening day of the season and he looks ready to return to the winner’s enclosure tomorrow.
The David Hayes-trained four-year-old, who won impressively on debut under Lyle Hewitson last season, has shaped with plenty of promise on his five subsequent runs, but remains on a modest rating of 65.
While he was no match for Jamie Richards’ Bulb General last time out, he finished over two lengths clear of third and hit the line powerfully in first-time cheekpieces.
The four-year-old will have to contend with stall 13 in tomorrow’s contest under Hewitson, but he defied barrier 12 on debut and could overcome a wide berth once again.
Trainer to watch
Tony Cruz
Tony Cruz celebrates a win at Happy Valley. Hong Kong's living legend is enjoying a great start to the season (SING TAO)
Ten of Tony Cruz’s 34 runners this term have finished in the first three home and the legendary trainer will hope to continue his stable’s good run of form with seven runners tomorrow.
Cruz could be celebrating success in the feature National Day Cup over 1,000 meters when Beauty Waves teams up with Zac Purton and bids to defend his crown in the Group 3 contest.
Beauty Waves won the National Day Cup last season for Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s stable, fending off Magic Control, and he opposes that rival having to carry top weight from barrier two.
He also blazed a trail on his second start for Cruz’s stable in July, smashing the 1,200m track record at Happy Valley. He finished seventh behind Ka Ying Rising on seasonal reappearance in the Class 1 Chief Executive’s Cup and now returns to his preferred 1,000m.
Jockey to watch
Harry Bentley
Harry Bentley teams up with Hong Lok Golf again on Wednesday (SING TAO)
Harry Bentley has been prolific in this season’s Class 2 contests and he will look to continue that streak in the Beijing Handicap when he teams up with Chris So Wai-yin’s Hong Lok Golf over a mile.
Three of Bentley’s four wins this term have been at Class 2 level and the Englishman is presented with another strong chance of success in the eighth race of the day aboard Hong Lok Golf, who claimed six wins from seven starts last season.
Bentley partnered Hong Lok Golf on all seven of his appearances in the 2024-25 season, where his rating rose from 52 to 96. The Australian-bred gelding showed his immense versatility to win over 1,200 meters, 1,400m and 1,600m at Sha Tin, as well as over Happy Valley’s 1,650m in June.
