Beauty Generation holds off stablemate in Sha Tin Trophy
BEAUTY Generation has scored consecutive top-grade wins after taking out the Group 2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy on Sunday.
The John Moore-trained star held off stablemate Booming Delight by a head in a thrilling finish, in a race which was dominated by those on the speed.
The plan was to lead, according to Moore, but jockey Derek Leung didn’t panic when Winner’s Way scorched around the field to lead.
“On a handicap basis, you looked upon those horses being right there, Beauty Generation and Booming Delight,” said Moore, who won his seventh Sha Tin Trophy. “The winner is a model of consistency, he had a perfect draw today.
“We were hoping to lead but when Winner’s Way pressed on, Derek went for Plan B – drop back and sit outside the leader. He’s hit the line well and just prevailed.”
The win was the biggest in Leung’s career, which up until Sunday had included three group three wins.
“It’s great to score my first group two victory, and it is very special to do it for Mr. Moore,” Leung said. “He gave me my first group win on Inspiration in the Premier Bowl on this day eight years ago, so it means a lot to me – I am really on top of the world.
“I think Beauty Generation is still improving so I hope he can be competitive in all of these mile races.”
Moore confirmed that Leung would keep the ride aboard Beauty Generation for the upcoming Hong Kong International Races in December.
“How can you take Derek off after he’s won two group races on him?” Moore said. “The owner has agreed so he will stick with Beauty Generation.
“We were originally thinking of the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse with the horse, but now we will keep him for the Jockey Club Mile and then he can go to the internationals.”
Moore was thrilled with the performance of Booming Delight, which could join its stablemates Eagle Way and Helene Charisma in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse on November 5.
“He ran in stages in the straight – if he had knuckled down and hit the line, he would have won the race, but he just hit a flat spot in the final stages,” Moore said, with jockey Karis Teetan adding: “I thought he was going to win at one stage, but the horse touched him on the outside and he just lost his action before he got going again.
“It was a great effort.”
Werther finished in sixth and will greatly benefit from the run. Along with stablemate Helene Paragon, Moore is expecting both to be prime for the feature races in December.
“Helene Paragon needed the run, while Werther was closing at the end,” Moore said. “He hit a bit of a flat spot at the top of the straight, that’s to be expected.
“I think they are both right on target for December.”