A sparkling riverside gallop last Thursday by Beauty Plus was just the push required to ensure the American-bred gelding became the top selection in the third event at Happy Valley tonight.
With his race rider Douglas Whyte on board, Beauty Plus worked in company with The World Of Love, a prolific winner at the city venue, over the straight 800 metres turf course.
Whyte rode Beauty Plus patiently, settling him down in The World Of Love's slipstream before producing him with a furlong to run. The way the grey quickened up when Whyte asked the question was a delight to watch, and suggests trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai has him primed to return to the winning list.
The overall time and sectionals were excellent - the full 800m in 46.3 seconds and the final 400m in 22.5 seconds.
Beauty Plus was ridden by apprentice Alex Lai Hoi-wing last start over this course and distance and the youngster did everything right from barrier two. He produced Beauty Plus at just the right time but was grabbed right on the line by the patiently-ridden Engineering Wonder, ridden by none other than Whyte himself.
That was only the second run this term for Beauty Plus and each received the same result, with the previous outing resulting in a short-head second to Toffee, also over tonight's course and distance.
Beauty Plus has drawn perfectly in barrier one and this should be a big advantage with the rail being in the C position (ie, 8m out from true).