Beauty Generation repeats as Hong Kong's Horse of the Year

A perfect season gave Beauty Generation his second consecutive Horse of the Year title in Hong Kong for the 2018-19 season that ends this weekend.

Beauty Generation, a 6-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, won a record eight races, all at Sha Tin Racecourse, from early October to late April. Trained by John Moore, Beauty Generation won four Group 1 races, including two international races – the Hong Kong Mile in December and the Champions Mile in April.

Owned by Patrick Kwok, Beauty Generation, who was also named champion miler, is the eighth horse to win consecutive Horse of the Year titles. The championship presentations were made at a hotel ceremony in Hong Kong on Friday.

In other equine prizes, Exultant was named champion middle distance horse and champion stayer; Beat the Clock was honored as champion sprinter; and Champion’s Way was honored as the most improved horse.

Zac Purton was recognized as champion jockey. He will win the riding title for the current season that ends at Sha Tin on Sunday. Purton enters Sunday’s program with 166 wins, and is within range of the all-time single-season record of 170 wins set by Joao Moreira in 2018-19.

The year-end awards are tabulated by a vote of track executives and local journalists.

The title of champion trainer will be determined on Sunday. John Size has a narrow lead over Moore, 76 wins to 74.

Sunday’s 11-race program at Sha Tin is the 88th of the season, which began in September. Purton has mounts in 10 of the 11 races, including the richest race of the day – the $335,493 Sha Tin Mile, run under handicap conditions.

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Purton rides Good Standing, who will carry 126 pounds, four less than joint topweights Citron Spirit and Winner’s Way. Citron Spirit was third in the Group 3 Premier Plate Handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Sha Tin on June 23.

Good Standing, trained by Moore, was seventh in the Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy at a mile on June 2 when ridden by Karis Teetan. Purton rode Good Standing to a win in a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on May 11.

The race drew a field of 11. Ka Ying Star, who will carry 127 pounds, is likely to set the pace. Ka Ying Star was second in the Lion Rocky Trophy, his graded stakes debut.