De Sousa hoping Pakistan Star can shine bright and upset Beauty Generation

Silvestre de Sousa has been tasked with the role of spoiler, as he and the talented but enigmatic Pakistan Star will attempt to lower the colours of Beauty Generation in Sunday's Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin.

Beauty Generation has risen to the top in Hong Kong with trainer John Moore and jockey Zac Purton extremely excited by the potential of the six-year-old.

His dominant display in the Longines Hong Kong Mile last month has led to covetous glances from around the world, with Nick Smith hoping to attract Beauty Generation to Royal Ascot this year.

But Pakistan's trainer Tony Cruz is not afraid of a challenge, and said on Tuesday: "Pakistan Star is the only horse that could beat Beauty Generation on Sunday."

While not underestimating how good Beauty Generation is, Cruz is entrusting De Sousa to sit behind and challenge late on, as he added: "He’s up against a top horse but I think he’ll be right behind him coming into the finish.

"This horse is always best when he comes from behind so we need to ride him quietly."

Pakistan Star will need to return to the form he showed in the early part of 2018, with his last four efforts not of the same quality.

But that is always within the realm of possibilities for the son of Shamardal, whose career is littered with peaks and troughs.

De Sousa is up for the test, and said: "Pakistan Star was never straightforward when I rode him in the past. But he’s changed a lot so now he travels handy and can quicken. A lot will depend on how he jumps out of the gate - I do think a small field will be more suitable for him.

"Beauty Generation is special, no one can take that away from him, but while he’ll be hard to beat, he’s not unbeatable."