IT doesn’t get much better than breeding a Group 1 winner with the first horse produced in your own name. Step forward Shane Molan in Riversfield Stud, Co Limerick. He watched with joy when Waikuku denied two-time Horse of the Year Beauty Generation a second win in the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin last Sunday, adding his own name to a distinguished roll of honour for one of Hong Kong’s iconic races.

The son of Harbour Watch (Acclamation) had come close to breaking through at the highest level last month at the international meeting when he was a half-length runner-up to Japanese raider Admire Mars in the Longines Hong Kong Mile. His latest and most important victory pushes his earnings past £1.75 million.