Racing: Cruz for Magnificent return

TONY CRUZ, one of Hong Kong's leading jockeys, will ride in Britain for the first time this season on Saturday, before partnering last year's Yorkshire Oaks winner, Magnificent Star, on her seasonal debut at Deauville the following day.

Cruz will be renewing the successful partnership struck up last season when he rode for trainer Mohammed Moubarak and Mahmoud Fustok, Moubarak's principal owner. On Saturday, he will ride Starlight Flyer, Fast Manouvre and Magic Street at Haydock, and now that the Hong Kong racing season is over, Cruz is expected to ride reguarly for Moubarak and Fustok.

Magnificent Star was one of the worst affected when a virus swept through Moubarak's stable earlier this year. If all goes well in Sunday's race, the Group Two Prix de Pomone, the filly will attempt to repeat last year's success in the Yorkshire Oaks before an autumn campaign which may culminate in a run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

On Sunday, Magnificent Star is due to be joined by Henry Cecil's Miss Plum, an easy winner at Bath last time out, and Always Friendly, trained by Henry Candy. The best of the home challengers should be Magic Night, runner-up in last year's Arc, and the Aga Khan's unbeaten Linnga.