Tony Cruz’s bid for a remarkable eighth victory in the Classic Mile will ramp up on Sunday and the legendary horseman is confident Beauty Bolt can stamp his credentials as a leading contender.

Seeking his first Classic Mile in 11 years, Cruz won the first leg of the four-year-old series three times as a jockey in the 1980s and 1990s before tasting success as a trainer with Floral Pegasus (2007), Helene Mascot (2008), Beauty Flash (2010) and Beauty Only (2015).

Irish import Beauty Bolt, an impressive two-time Sha Tin winner, will bid to strengthen his Classic Mile claims when he runs in Sunday’s crucial Class Three Pak Shek Au Handicap (1,600m) at Sha Tin.

The race is restricted to four-year-olds and will serve as a key form reference for the Classic Mile on February 1 with the exciting Invincible Ibis, Beauty Bolt and Fit For Beauty among the top prospects in action.

Yet to finish outside the top four in six local starts, Beauty Bolt won over 1,600m at Sha Tin on his third run this term before a close second last start to fellow Classic Series hope Dazzling Fit.

“I’m very happy with his condition. He’s very fit and ready for this race,” Cruz said.

“The mile seems to be his best distance. He’s just turned four and I believe he can improve. He’s got a good chance on the weekend and he’ll be heading to the Classic Mile.”

Zac Purton made an early commitment to Beauty Bolt’s owners, the Kwok family, to ride the son of Night Of Thunder on Sunday.

However, the champion jockey’s ride of choice for the Classic Mile remains up in the air, with Invincible Ibis and Sagacious Life among his other top options.

The barrier draw for Sunday’s race was not kind to Beauty Bolt, with the Dundalk winner copping the outside gate in the field of 14.

Invincible Ibis, the nominal Classic Mile favourite after three straight wins for Purton and trainer Mark Newnham, jumps from gate three with new rider Hugh Bowman on board.

Andrea Atzeni has been booked to ride Fit For Beauty, who has won two of his past three starts for the John Size stable.

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s The Red Hare is the other last-start winner in the field, with in-form French star Maxime Guyon taking the ride after Hollie Doyle booted him home last month.

Classic Mile aspirants are spread across other races on Sunday’s card, including the promising Little Paradise and Public Attention in the feature Class Two Racing Club Cup (1,400m).

Beauty Crescent will represent Cruz in the feature and the 69-year-old was buoyed by his charge’s draw in gate three.

“With a good barrier, I believe he’ll be right there in the finish,” Cruz said.

Beauty Crescent completed a hat-trick with a pair of Class Three victories to start his latest campaign before running fourth and 13th when rising to Class Two on his past two starts.

He had plenty of excuses last start, with a wide draw in gate 11 preventing him from getting into his customary forward position and a check from eventual winner Aeris Nova in the early stages also proving costly.

Another strong chance for Cruz on Sunday is Star Satyr, who bids to go one better than last start when he tackles the second section of the Class Four Wu Kau Tang Handicap (1,400m).

“He’s very close to winning – hopefully he can pull it off this time,” Cruz said.

Holmes A Court, Kasa Papa, Stunning Peach, Liveandletlive and Cheaha are the stable’s other runners at Sha Tin.

Four-year-old Cheaha must improve his recent form to boost his faint hopes of figuring in the Classic Series.