Beauty Generation rules Stewards' Cup in Hong Kong
Beauty Generation led throughout Sunday’s Group 1 Stewards’ Cup for turf milers at Sha Tin Racecourse, further emphasizing his status as Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year.
Ridden by Zac Purton, Beauty Generation ($2.30) pulled away in the final furlong to win his sixth consecutive stakes in the $1.27 million Stewards’ Cup by three lengths over Conte.
“He was coasting,” Purton told Hong Kong publicists. “There was a bit more there.”
Conte, who was having his Group 1 stakes debut, held second by a short head over Southern Legend. Beauty Generation was timed in 1:33.51. The Stewards’ Cup was his first start since a win in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile against an international field at Sha Tin last month.
John Moore trains Beauty Generation for Patrick Kwok of Hong Kong.
On Sunday, Purton had Beauty Generation clear shortly after the start. None of Beauty Generation’s rivals got within a length in the one-turn race. Despite the impressive win, Purton said the Hong Kong Mile was a more impressive performance.
“He had a bit of a let-up after the Hong Kong Mile and John had him on the way back up today,” Purton said. “He’s not far off his top and he’s just shown that. He doesn’t need to get any better. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing and that’s enough.”
A 6-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Beauty Generation is expected to remain in Hong Kong for his next few races, with the Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin on April 28 as a long-term goal. There have been discussions about a trip to Japan for the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse on June 2.
Southern Legend is nominated for two stakes at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 30 – the Group 1 Dubai Turf at 1 1/8 miles and the Group 2 Godolphin Mile on dirt.
Earlier on Sunday’s Sha Tin program, Beat the Clock, who was third in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint in December against an international field, won the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup at six furlongs on turf.
Ridden by Joao Moreira, Beat the Clock ($6.30) finished a neck in front of even-money favorite Mr Stunning, the winner of the Hong Kong Sprint last month. The 40-1 outsider Winner’s Way was third in the field of seven in the $1.27 million race.
Beat the Clock closed from fourth in the final half-mile to take the lead in the stretch. Beat the Clock finished in 1:08.82 for his first win in a Group 1 race.
“The last hundred meters he started to pull up and wait for the others, but he was too good,” Moreira said. “He had that burst of speed and good horses do that.”
Beat the Clock and Beauty Generation may meet in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at seven furlongs at Sha Tin on Feb. 17.
Beat the Clock is trained by John Size, who leads the standings in Hong Kong this season.
