Cruz-ing to victory

Legendary homegrown trainer Tony Cruz captured his 1500th win as a trainer after Beauty Joy, with Brenton Avdulla on the saddle, edged out Beauty Eternal to win the Group Two Chairman's Trophy.

After the race, the Jockey Club held a ceremony to celebrate Cruz's milestone. He is the only champion jockey to become a champion trainer in Hong Kong.

"I have to thank the Jockey Club for issuing me a license. It's been 52 years since I became a jockey then a trainer," Cruz said. "Hong Kong has become a hub of horseracing and I am fortunate enough to be part of it." Cruz started his riding career in the 1973/74 season. He went on to be Hong Kong Champion Jockey six times and rode 946 winners.

He was granted a Hong Kong trainer's license in 1996 and most famously trained the great Hong Kong champion Silent Witness to win 17 consecutive races and Exultant as one of Hong Kong's highest money earners.