Purton reserves judgment on Beauty Destiny: ‘not going to convict him too early’

The jury is out regarding Beauty Destiny following his tail-swishing debut defeat at odds on. However, Zac Purton is “not going to convict him too early”, and certainly not before Saturday’s Class Four Ho Sheung Heung Road Handicap (1,000m) at Sha Tin.

Only Romantic Warrior ($1.2) and Superb Capitalist ($1.2) have lost at shorter prices than Beauty Destiny ($1.4) this season. Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s novice resented coming under pressure at the business end of her first-start third behind two talented youngsters, Lucky Encounter and Green N White, over 1,200m.

Lucky Encounter’s trainer, David Hayes, opined during his post-race interview Beauty Destiny may be better suited to five furlongs than six. Lor seems to agree with the Australian handler, selecting a 1,000m race for the Star Turn gelding’s second run.

Purton, who requires 22 wins from this term’s last 11 meetings to beat Joao Moreira’s single-season record of 170 victories, does not know what to expect from Beauty Destiny this weekend. What he does know, however, is it is too soon to form a firm view.

“We were all disappointed in his performance, but he’s a young horse, inexperienced and doesn’t know what he’s doing, so we’re not going to convict him too early,” said Purton of Beauty Destiny, who cruised into contention before downing tools and finishing two and three-quarter lengths adrift of subsequent Class Three winner Lucky Encounter three weeks ago.

“I don’t think the distance is the issue with him. I think it’s how he applies himself mentally. His trial going into his first run was very good. We saw what he did on race day. His last trial was pretty poor. At the moment, he’s up and down in what he’s giving us.

“I think he’s going to improve with racing. I don’t necessarily think going up the straight or around a corner will solve any problems for him, but I think the more he races, the better he should get.”

Beauty Destiny is the most intriguing of Purton’s nine rides at Sha Tin, whereas Tuchel is the record-chasing five-time champion jockey’s highest-rated mount.

Purton has been 100-rated Tuchel’s pilot for seven of his 13 starts – they have four wins and two placings in tandem – including when the John Size-prepared Redwood gelding was fourth behind Super Sunny Sing, Sword Point and Galaxy Witness in the Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin, his only run over the 1,800m trip.

Tuchel will lug 135 pounds in Saturday’s card-closing Class Two Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1,800m), and while Purton admires his conveyance’s fighting qualities, he worries about his stamina reserves.

“I didn’t think he ran the distance of the 1,800m out that well when I rode him [in the Classic Cup], but I did chase the speed a little bit in that race, and maybe that was a telling factor,” Purton said of Tuchel’s only unplaced effort this campaign.

Hayes confident progressive Lucky Encounter will ‘be pretty hard to beat’

“In the Derby [over 2,000m], he was strong through the line, but they went that slow it wasn’t a test of stamina. He drew a soft gate and had a soft run, so he had something to give.

“He gets his chance again. I’m not going to say he’s not going to run it. There was no fluke in what he did [over 1,400m last time]. He did a good job. He had to man up, and he did that. He was strong through the line, so hopefully, that helps us in this race.”

Purton’s book of rides comprises Tianchi Monster, Beauty Destiny, Beauty Tycoon, Green Laser, Lady’s Choice, Unpresuming, Jumbo Fortune, Party Warrior and Tuchel, with the champion-elect sitting out the fifth event on the programme.

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