Nine straight for Beauty Generation
New Zealand-bred galloper Beauty Generation showcased why he is the world’s highest rated active racehorse when he trounced his opposition in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
It was the six-year-old geldings ninth straight win and eighth of the season, setting a new benchmark in Hong Kong after bettering the previous record of seven, jointly held by Entrapment and Ambitious Dragon.
He also became the highest earning horse in Hong Kong’s history, amassing HK$84.8 million (NZ$16.2 million) in prizemoney with Sunday’s win.
In another remarkable feat, Beauty Generation became the first horse to win the Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile and Champions Mile double in successive years.
Trainer John Moore was delighted with the continued success of his stable star and is eyeing a potential tilt at the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in June.
“Definitely, it’s an amazing achievement for the stable and all the staff to be able to keep him up and sustain his fitness level to be able to win these races in such a facile fashion,” he said.
“The whole world knows we’ve got one hell of a miler over here (in Hong Kong).
“I’d like to go to Japan but of course it is the owner’s call. Patrick (Kwok) and his father (Simon) will make the decision in time.”
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Jockey Zac Purton echoed his trainer’s sentiments and is looking forward to furthering his successful association with the world’s best miler.
“It’s what we expected him to do, he was a little bit fitter,” he said. “When he’s out in front like that mid race and there’s nothing around pushing him, he just floats a little bit so my job was to try to keep him rolling and let him do the rest.”
While it has already been a record-setting season for Beauty Generation, Moore is looking forward to continuing that success in the coming months and he believes his charge is up to it.
“It was a facile win and I don’t think it took much out of him in the sense of it being such a long season and I still think there’s a lot left in the tank,” he said. “Let’s go back to the drawing board and have a talk over dinner.
“To have him in the yard is any trainer’s dream but if we go to Japan to take on the Japanese armada that will be the real telling factor in his career.”
Beauty Generation was a graduate of Highden Park’s 2014 Select Yearling draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Purchased by Kylie Bax’ Hermes Syndications for $60,000, the son of Road To Rock initially raced in Australia under the name Montaigne where he won twice and was runner-up to Tarzino in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
The outstanding six-year-old was bred by Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud and has now won seven Group One races in Hong Kong.