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Graham Cunningham: History awaits Beauty Generation as Hayes nearly loses dog

David Hayes: big day for the Australian trainer
David Hayes: big day for the Australian trainerCredit: Edward Whitaker

It will take around 80 seconds starting at 9.35am (BST) to find out whether Golden Sixty can make the most of the 17lb he receives from Beauty Generation in Sunday's Celebration Cup.

The big race is the highlight at Sha Tin but there are plenty of interesting subplots on a ten-race card and an interesting horse wearing blinkers first time who ought to go well at a decent price.

Snake scare leaves Hayes counting the canine cost

'David Hayes needs Beauty to win after nearly losing his dog in hiking ordeal' is one of the stranger headlines of the week but all's well that ends well and the Aussie trainer is hoping his stable star can win a fourth consecutive Celebration Cup.

Hayes was walking with wife Prue in a nature reserve this week, when Bailey was bitten by a bamboo viper, prompting an hour-long dash to an animal hospital for successful anti-venom treatment.

"It was frightening," Hayes told Sam Agars of the South China Morning Post. "We had to carry him down the mountain and he nearly died. I'm definitely going to need Beauty Generation to win as the bill is horrendous!"

Beauty Generation: top-class sort is back in action
Beauty Generation: top-class sort is back in actionCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

Purton chasing history

Hayes is fully aware that Beauty Generation will need to bring his A game to concede so much weight to Hong Kong Derby hero Golden Sixty, but Zac Purton feels there are several things in the old champ's favour.

"He's had a little bit more time between runs this time but the horse seems to be really well," the jockey said.

"He looks good and to me he still feels like he's got the will to want to do it. It's now David's job to be able to handle him. We're looking to create history as the first horse ever to win 19 races in Hong Kong and for me it's exciting."

Yeung stays focused after Valley double

Keith Yeung was in prime form with a double at Happy Valley in midweek and the popular local lightweight is determined to stay in the moment in advance of a big weekend.


Sunday's Sha Tin card


"Last season was bad and if I was strangled by it I'd be too depressed," he said. "If you give yourself too much expectation then you're going to end up with lots of disappointment and it can break you. Happiness is the source of everything."

Yeung's happiness ratio increased sharply when Dances With Dragon bolted up in Group 3 company over 1m1f in June and trainer Caspar Fownes feels the Savabeel gelding "can run a cheeky race" at long odds if the early pace is as strong as expected back at this shorter trip.

Smoothies worth noting with blinkers fitted

It isn't often you look at a Class 3 handicap at Sha Tin (10.10) and thing that plenty of the field are hard to fancy but that's the case.

Recent winners like Bright Kid and Winston's Lad have probably found their level having gone up 6lb and 7lb respectively, while top-weight Flashcard was a smart Ascot winner for Andrew Balding but clearly hasn't found his form since moving to Tony Cruz.

Tony Cruz: saddles Flashcard, who has yet to fully fire
Tony Cruz: saddles Flashcard, who has yet to fully fireCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

Old rivals Big Fortune and Biz Power have much more to recommend them and will corner a big chunk of the market as a result, but don't be surprised if the unexposed Smoothies shows up boldly under Derek Leung.

The Danny Shum-trained gelding was a shade in an and out in his first season but he ran a belter to chase home the fast-improving Mighty Giant here in the spring and the way that he trialled in blinkers recently suggests that he's fairly treated from the same mark of 74.

Chau shines on ever-improving Star

The latest news about last season's most improved horse is - he's still improving.

Amazing Star climbed from a mark of 58 to 100 on the back of four impressive Happy Valley wins over 6f last term and looked better than ever on his return to the city track on Wednesday, travelling powerfully throughout from a wide draw and forging clear of a strong Class 2 field in great style under 10lb claimer Jerry Chau.

Chau continues to look good value for his hefty claim and has five more chances to shine on Sunday, including aboard progressive all-weather sprinter Eight Trigrams in the 6f handicap at 9.05.


Bets can be placed into HK pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes

First race at Sha Tin on Sunday is 6am BST


Published on 26 September 2020inInternational

Last updated 11:50, 26 September 2020

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