THE world’s highest rated specialist miler, Beauty Generation, broke the course record in the Group 2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin last Sunday, with Caspar Fownes describing the winner as becoming “Winx-like.”
Winning trainer John Moore wasn’t short of glowing endorsements either and without reservation mentioned Beauty Generation in the same breath as his former champion Able Friend, the 2014/15 Hong Kong Horse of the Year – a title Beauty Generation claimed last season.
“He was like Able Friend. He reminded me of Able Friend, making the big run and scooting clear from the turn. He’s proved he’s a champion. He had to make two runs out there after it was like the charge of the Light Brigade early and people around the world now will stand up and take notice that there is a very good miler here in Hong Kong,” Moore said.
Last year’s winner Hong Kong Mile well and truly ratified that lofty international rating of 126 as he bettered Good Ba Ba’s near 10-year-old track record (running a blistering 1m 32.64s).
“The winner is absolutely incredible,” said Fownes, “to shatter a record like that – and to do it the way he did, drifting out like that. He did it the hard way. He’s becoming Winx-like and in a different league to these horses he’s beaten today.”
Beauty Generation hasn’t quite matched the 29 straight wins of Australian champion Winx but is now looking almost as invincible with eight wins from his past 11 starts, this season and last, and now four on the trot.
“His ratings go through the roof each time he steps out,” Fownes said of Beauty Generation who sustained a three-length margin despite laying out badly in the straight.
Track record for Eagle Way
EAGLE Way set John Moore a quandary after swooping to an upset win in the HK$4.25 million Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (10 furlongs).
The trainer had the proven stayer set towards the HK$20 million Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (12 furlongs) in three weeks’ time. But that plan could be scrapped in favour of a 10 furlong back-up in the HK$28 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup.
“We haven’t decided whether we run in the Vase over 2400 (12 furlongs) or the Cup over 2000 (10 furlongs),” Moore revealed after the six-year-old scored under Silvestre de Sousa, a length ahead of runner-up Exultant. It was British champion jockey’s first pattern race win in Hong Kong.
Following his stable star Beauty Generation’s incredible track record success in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile, Moore was bubbling upon learning that Eagle Way had clocked the fastest 2000m in Sha Tin’s history.
Time Warp burst to the lead under Zac Purton and the Joao Moreira-ridden Glorious Forever harried the leader, while Pakistan Star attempted to chase three wide. All three faltered on the turn for home.
“He doesn’t have early speed but he showed a good turn-of-foot and if the pace is decent on the day, I think he’ll have a great chance in three weeks’ time. I’ll be quite happy to keep the ride!” the Brazilian said.
Moore was also pleased with Werther’s third-placed effort given that the former Horse of the Year was having only his second start of the campaign.
“The European season is coming to an end and so are their horses, including those that might be coming out of Melbourne, and we’ve got horses that have been set for these races.
“They might not be as good, but they’re going in in their prime,” he said.
Prawn proves the King
HOT King Prawn and Joao Moreira landed the Group 2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint (six furlongs) in all-the-way fashion.
Moreira was back at Sha Tin just 24 hours after being granted a six-month licence to return to Hong Kong as stable jockey to John Size.
“It’s such a pleasure to be back riding a horse like this for John,” he said. “He was so fast out of the gate and when I asked him to go in the straight I was always confident that he could hold on.”
Ahead of the Hong Kong Sprint December 9th, Size said: “Pressure for the lead is a concern and I’m sure someone will come up with a plan, but I think this horse can adapt.”
Only one Jockey Club Sprint winner in the last decade has gone on to follow up in the December showpiece. That one horse was Mr Stunning last year and jockey Karis Teetan, who felt that a bump from Ivictory harmed his cause, is relishing the chance to take on Hot King Prawn on better terms next month.