Beauty beaten again as Admire Mars proves he is out of this world in Mile

Beauty Generation has lost his allure. This was his shot at history, a chance to emulate Good Ba Ba by winning three Longines Hong Kong Miles in a row, but the world's highest-rated miler is not seeing out his races like he used to and once again ran out of gas as Japan struck with Admire Mars.

Having won ten in a row before his shock odds-on defeat in the Sha Tin Trophy in October, Beauty Generation has now gone three races without a win and Zac Purton admitted afterwards that something was amiss in the closing stages.

"That's disappointing, he's just not finishing off in the straight for whatever reason," said a disillusioned Purton.

There was no such disappointment in the Admire Mars camp. Christophe Soumillon's winter voyage to Japan paid off spectacularly here as Yasuo Tomomichi's three-year-old colt caused a 26-1 shock. The man on board was not one bit surprised, though.

Admire Mars wins the Hong Kong Mile under Christophe SoumillonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Soumillon said: "What a horse. I decided to go to Japan this winter and it has really paid off. I was so confident – I thought I might have a fight when Joao [Moreira on runner-up Waikuku] came up to me but he's a real fighter. It's great to be part of history."

Admire Mars was carrying the familiar blue and white silks of Riichi Kondo, one of Japan’s most significant owners, who died only a few weeks ago.

Soumillon added: "He was probably one of the biggest private owners in the Japanese racing industry. He was somebody very famous who loved horses. We could see his colours from a long time ago, they won nearly everywhere. We had the bad news a few weeks ago so I’m really proud and happy to take these colours so high today."

Zaaki, the sole British representative from the Sir Michael Stoute stable, had to settle for eighth of the ten runners having travelled as well as anything into the home straight.

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