Beauty Generation returns to winning ways in Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup

Beauty Generation, the Horse of the Year in Hong Kong the last two seasons, ended a four-race losing streak in Sunday’s Group 1 Queen’s Jubilee Silver Cup at Sha Tin, a victory that could lead to an appearance in Dubai on March 28.

Sent off as a strong favorite, Beauty Generation (3-5) won the $1.28 million Queen’s Jubilee Silver Cup at seven furlongs by a half-length over 17-1 Ka Ying Star. Zac Purton rode Beauty Generation. Beat the Clock, a 2-1 chance who won Group 1 races at Sha Tin in December and January, finished fifth of seven, 3 3/4 lengths behind Beauty Generation.

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming

A 7-year-old gelding, Beauty Generation was Horse of the Year for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, winning all eight of his starts in the latter of those campaigns. This year, Beauty Generation won his debut in October in a Grade 3 race and was second or third in his next four starts.

For Sunday’s race, trainer John Moore changed Beauty Generation’s routine, breaking the gelding from the gate on Thursday.

“I did a lot of things with him trying not to stick to the same pattern as we’d had in the lead-up to the big races in the past,” Moore told Hong Kong publicity. “It was quite a different prep.”

Beauty Generation has led or disputed the pace in his recent races, but rallied from fourth in the Queen’s Jubilee Silver Cup.

“I couldn’t take the position [I wanted], so I had to ride him where I was and had belief in the horse,” Purton said.

The win was considered a prep for the $6 million Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse on March 28, although Moore stopped short of committing the Australian-bred for the journey. He said the decision hinges on a discussion with owner Patrick Kwok.

“I think he could do a great job in Dubai,” Moore said.

Earlier on Sunday’s Sha Tin program, Time Warp won his third Group 1 in a 26-1 upset in the $1.28 million Hong Kong Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles, a race he won in 2018.

Time Warp, ridden by leading rider Joao Moreira, won the Hong Kong Gold Cup by three-quarters of a length over 1-5 favorite Exultant, leading throughout. The first two finishers are trained by Tony Cruz.

A 7-year-old British-bred gelding, Time Warp ended a 12-race losing streak since the Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies Purse at Sha Tin in October 2018. Time Warp was scratched from the Group 3 Centenary Vase at Sha Tin on Jan. 26 because of soundness concerns, and underwent an examination by Hong Kong veterinary officials before being allowed to start on Sunday.

“That was a big surprise,” Cruz said. “I was expecting Exultant to win the race.”

Exultant was the champion middle distance and champion stayer in Hong Kong for the 2018-19 season that ended last July.