Jerry Chau Chun-lok will be hoping class can shine through as he looks for a repeat victory in Sunday’s Group Three Korea Sprint (1,200m), this time partnering with the Tony Cruz-trained speedster Beauty Waves.

Despite being one of the lowest rated runners in the field 12 months ago, Chau lifted Self Improvement to success for a dramatic half a length win. The script will be flipped this time, however, with the 104-rated Beauty Waves sure to be one of the highest-rated horses in the line up.

The Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained Self Improvement will go for back-to-back wins with Dylan Mo Hin-tung aboard, while Danny Shum Chap-shing’s Gorgeous Win will be partnered by Richard Kingscote to round off the Hong Kong entries.

Beauty Waves limbered up for Korea by winning a trial on the Sha Tin dirt towards the end of last month and Chau is hoping that will have him cherry ripe for his international assignment.

“He has been on the dirt before and he’s shown he has ability on it, so hopefully he can handle the new track in Korea,” Chau said.

“He only had one trial but he ran well – he started a bit late this season. I think that trial will help him a lot and hopefully that can bring him towards his peak form.”

34 of Beauty Waves’ 35 Hong Kong starts have come on the turf, with a third-place finish at Sha Tin in April last year being his only run on the dirt.

Seoul’s unique sand surface, on paper, could provide a difficult challenge for the Starspangledbanner galloper, but his trainer Cruz has no reservations and points to his pre-import form, which should provide him a big advantage.

“I’m very happy with his travelling – he’s a very calm type of horse and nothing excites him, which helps for things like this,” Cruz said.

“I’m very happy with his condition – his trial showed me that he’s in form and I’m very happy with the horse. He’s galloping on the track on Thursday so he’ll get used to it.

“He won on the Polytrack in Ireland before coming to Hong Kong and he’s been winning some trials on the dirt here too. I think he will handle the surface fine.”

Chau enjoyed a blistering 2025-26 season, securing his first Tony Cruz Award for leading local rider after a 48-win season that included the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) aboard Light Years Charm.

He kept himself busy over the summer, riding at the Shergar Cup at Ascot and winning the opening race for Team Hong Kong on Tuco Salamanca in the Shergar Cup Dash (1,000m).

The 26-year-old is looking to continue that momentum as he bids to build up his profile outside of Hong Kong.

“It’s always great to be able to ride overseas and in the big races – it gives me a chance to get even more experience and it’s good. Ascot was a big day for me, riding at that beautiful track and it was an honour – I learned plenty,” Chau said.

“I would like to try and keep my performance like it was last season – hopefully I can get 40 winners up. It will be difficult, but I will try my best. The Tony Cruz Award again would be a main goal, and also to win a big race in Hong Kong.

“I won a Group Two a long time ago and I hope I can get some more quality rides in Group races this season and maybe a get a winner.”