Graham Cunningham: Beauty Generation back on track and ready to make a big noise

Everything went to plan as Hong Kong’s master miler Beauty Generation tuned up for his eagerly awaited reappearance in the sunshine at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.

The John Moore-trained seven-year-old limbered up for his bid for a third consecutive win in next week's Celebration Cup by cruising home under Zac Purton in a trial headed by exciting young stablemate Aethero, ridden by Aldo Domeyer

Following the workout, a Moore predictably positive Moore said: "It wouldn't be a disaster if he got beat but I don’t think he will."

Meanwhile, an interested observer who was not on duty in the trial took the chance to observe Beauty Generation closely before offering an interesting opinion on what makes the seven-year-old so dominant.

Hong Kong veteran Neil Callan used his ears as well as his eyes as the trial concluded and reported: "Beauty Generation galloped past you could hardly hear a sound.

"I said to John that he must have lungs like a pair of reservoirs and I reckon that’s what makes him seem to have twice as much energy as other horses."

Aethero was not the centre of attention as Beauty Generation cooled down in the Sha Tin sand ring but Moore stoked the embers further enhancing the reputation of his latest hot prospect.

The powerful three-year-old barely broke sweat in rattling off a hat-trick in his first season and heads towards his first Class 2 assignment at Sha Tin next Tuesday with some incredibly bullish comments from his trainer ringing in his ears.

Aethero is a warm order for the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on SundayCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

"He is a superstar in the making, I guarantee you he is a superstar in the making," said Moore.

The trainer is looking beyond next Tuesday's race, where Purton will be aboard, and has already booked South African Domeyer for the Group 2 Premier Bowl in October, with December's Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint the ultimate target.

A smiling Domeyer said Aethero's trial was just as good as it looked but anyone tempted to assume the chestnut is ready to clean up Hong Kong's demanding sprint division should remember that there have been 20 renewals of the Hong Kong Sprint and not one of them has been won by a three-year-old.

So And So well equipped for tactical opener

All seven runners in Wednesday's opening Heung Yip Handicap have a clear holdup profile, so someone is going to have to change tack, but a true pace looks odds against and that complicates matters.

Green Luck is the natural starting point after a decisive success in a strongly-run mile contest under Joao Moreira here earlier this month and can go well again despite a 6lb rise.

Joao Moreira: the 'Magic Man' has ridden big winners across the globeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

That said, the fact that Moreira partners Mr So And So rather than Green Luck this time is notable.

The John Size-trained five-year-old failed to cut it against the best four-year-olds last season but revived towards the end of the season and ran particularly well when chasing home the highly progressive Not Usual Talent here.

Mr So And So is fairly treated on that form and, judged by the way he travels through his races, he looks better equipped to cope with a sit-sprint scenario than most of this bunch.

Purton the key to Win Win’s prospects

The tactical pattern of the Tai Shue Wan Handicap (3.20) looks straightforward, with recent course-and-distance scorer Last Kingdom set to go forward again as he bids to make it two from two for new handler Douglas Whyte.

It is clear the move to Whyte has helped the son of Frankel take advantage of a sliding mark, but a 7lb rise makes life harder and Win Win is a very dangerous rival in a what looks a winnable race by Class 3 standards.

This four-year-old was impressive on both his first two starts under Purton and can be forgiven for his defeat at short odds under the Aussie here in June as he went off much too hard in a bid to offset a wide draw and had little left to give once headed.

Purton has a decision to make from the same gate this time and will probably opt to use some early pace in a bid to stalk the leaders.

Whatever the gameplan, Win Win has scope for improvement this season. A recent trial suggests he is well tuned up for his reappearance and his turn of foot could prove decisive if the breaks go his way.

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