Beauty Swift chasing Hong Kong dream in Queensland Derby

It is almost job done for Warwick Farm trainer Matt Smith as Beauty Swift lines up in the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Owned by one of Hong Kong’s biggest owners, Simon Kwok, who runs the Sa Sa beauty shops, Beauty Swift has just about earned a one-way ticket to the racing mecca as a prospect for the Derby over there next year.

“It will probably be his final run for us on the weekend,” Smith admitted. “We were lucky enough to ask to train some of the Beauty horses, and you do that knowing they are eventually, hopefully, heading over there.”

“He is a very nice horse that has just kept stepping up as we have asked to, and is getting out to 2400m where he is going to be very competitive.”

“Unfortunately, he has drawn the outside barrier for the Derby, which makes it very tough.”

Beauty Swift has had six starts, winning his maiden at a mile at Nowra in the spring. He has come back into work, with Queensland as a target, working his way from Newcastle to Scone before winning over 2000m at Kembla Grange.

His on-speed style saw him finish runner-up in the Rough Habit Plate behind Kilman last time.

It’s his style that makes the outside draw a major drawback.

“We have a horse that is making the right progression and is ready to peak in the Derby, but the draw makes it super tough for him,” Smith said.

“We are confident that he will stay, but where he gets to in the run will be interesting.”

“We have got Kerrin McEvoy, and it will be up to him to get him across and get a good run. If he does get the right run, he will run a big race.”

Beauty Swift is $17 in a market led by Chris Waller-trained Monopolistic at $4.60.