Fownes’s Legend faces a tough task as Beauty Generation’s aura swells
When Southern Legend enters his allotted barrier for the HK$25 million Hong Kong Mile on Sunday (9 December), the bay will stand alongside 12 fellow challengers taking on a horse in process of being anointed to greatness around the Sha Tin stable yard.
Beauty Generation’s remarkable display in the G2 Jockey Club Mile two and a half weeks ago – on the back of two dominant weight-carrying feats – elevated John Moore’s galloper to a hallowed tier. Last year’s Group 1 Hong Kong Mile hero is being talked about in the same breath as his mighty stable forerunner Able Friend, Hong Kong’s all-time highest-rated galloper.
“Beauty Generation is there already, judging him on his three performances this season,” Southern Legend’s trainer Caspar Fownes observed this morning, Tuesday, 4 December.
Over-hype is the sports sphere’s ubiquitous bore, so could it be that the building air of invincibility around Beauty Generation is being overblown?
“No. Nothing in that race will beat him,” Fownes said. “He’s just at a different level; he’s got the real wow factor. He looks to be the horse for the next year and a half to two years.
“He’s at a higher level, he shattered the course record last start – his prior two runs with 133lb on his back were so impressive. He’s up there with the best in the world.”
That he is – according to the numbers. Beauty Generation is currently rated 126 in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, one point lower than Able Friend’s peak mark. He is the world’s top-rated specialist turf miler, a perhaps convoluted way of saying he’s the best horse this year to have raced at a mile on grass other than the phenomenal Winx, whose top rating of 130 came in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000m.
Running for place money?
Fownes, who has declared Beauty Generation’s performances this season to be “Winx-like” is not alone in believing his own horse is running for second place, despite the field featuring a slew of top-class gallopers, notably Japan’s talented duo Persian Knight – perceived to be a serious danger – and Vivlos, and the European raiders One Master and Inns Of Court.
Douglas Whyte has had a rear-end view of Beauty Generation from astride Southern Legend at his last two starts. The 13-time Hong Kong champion, who snared the latest two of his three HKIR wins in 2013 with Akeed Mofeed (Cup) and Glorious Days (Mile), echoed Fownes’ take on the race.
“Look, something’s got to run second to Beauty Generation and he did last time so let’s hope he can earn some prize money again,” Whyte said.
And the Southern Legend camp is not alone in believing they have an impossible task if a healthy Beauty Generation shows up.
Trainer Tony Millard, who will saddle Singapore Sling in opposition, said, “Frankly, we’re running for place money if they allow Beauty Generation to dictate,” while Fifty Fifty’s handler Peter Ho said, “Hopefully Fifty Fifty can get a place – he can’t win but racing is racing, so you never know.”
Ready for “the big one”
Southern Legend, for his part, is in rude health for his upcoming task. The six-year-old won the 1400m Class 1 handicap on International day last year and progressed to finish a length and three quarters third to Beauty Generation in the Group 1 Champions Mile in April, before a landmark win in the SIN G1 Kranji Mile in Singapore.
“Looking back, he had a great prep and was consistent throughout last season – if you take that form to Singapore you’re obviously a big chance. But now we’re back in Hong Kong for the big one and it’s a different proposition but we’re looking for a first three to four finish with him,” Fownes said.
“I’m very happy with his prep coming in off a really nice second the other day. He’s remained in good form and I’m looking forward to the race on Sunday.”
Whyte, too is pleased with Southern Legend’s wellbeing but does not believe his mount will find much, if anything, on his meritorious last start second in the Jockey Club Mile.
“I think he’s going in pretty much in the same kind of form. I don’t think he can be much better than last time – he ran out of his skin,” the jockey said.
“He trialled very well before his last run and he ran tremendous, so for him to run better than that and win, he’s got to improve three or four lengths. I think if he just stays the same he’s going to be competitive.”
Fownes, meanwhile, is without a win at the year-end showpiece since Lucky Nine took the 2011 Hong Kong Sprint.
“I’m itching to get a top grader again. We’ve gone close a few times, running second on the big day – Military Attack, Green Birdie and the big horse, Thumbs Up,” he said.
“Hopefully, Beauty Generation is not on his game for some reason but that looks doubtful. He’s just in a different league at this stage, he’s incredible!”