Progressive Son Of Starspangledbanner Lands Group 3 Sprint

Beauty Waves (4g Starspangledbanner – Little Sweetheart, by Lawman) maintained an upward curve when landing Tuesday’s Group 3 feature at Sha Tin.

The son of Starspangledbanner had won or placed on all of his starts since joining Pierre Ng and was last seen finishing second in the Class 1 Chief Executive’s Cup. Sent off favourite for the HK$4.2 million National Day Cup, he raced in midfield under Alexis Badel and improved his position before the two furlong pole. Ridden to press the leaders approaching the final furlong, he was driven to lead 150 yards out and kept on well to beat dual Stakes winner Magic Control (Sioux Nation) by half a length.

“I was confident,” Badel later revealed. “He’s a good horse, he only got beaten last time by a very special horse. Coming back to a shorter trip didn’t worry me. He’s got class and he’s got speed.”

Beauty Waves transferred to Hong Kong after winning a Dundalk maiden for Pat Flynn and is now owned by Eleanor Kwok Law Kwai Chun. The son of Starspangledbanner was bred by the Lykke Til Group.