Beauty Generation the horse of a lifetime for highflyer Purton

Pressure and the human response to it is what marks out the great from the merely very good.

And while it might seem to the outside world that Zac Purton is enjoying a series of armchair rides as Beauty Generation adds to his rich harvest of Group 1 victories, that’s not the way the 36-year-old Queenslander views his association with the dominant miler in Hong Kong and perhaps the world.

In the weeks running up to last December's Longines HKIR meeting, questions were raised over Beauty Generation's fitness after he lashed out at an advertising hoarding on his way back from exercise. Those questions were dispelled in Purton's mind only when called in by trainer John Moore to breeze the six-year-old the day before an emphatic defence of the Hong Kong Mile.

With a smoother prep leading up to the FWD Champions Mile and Beauty Generation's superiority over his domestic rivals now beyond contest, does Purton feel in a calmer frame of mind?

"As we have progressed, and more so this season, the pressure has continually built," Purton says. "I know John feels more pressure every time Beauty Generation goes out there to ensure he's at his best and he can get the job done.

Beauty Generation wins The Stewards' CupCredit: Hkjc

"Back in December when we were going for the Internationals, I don't think there was as much pressure as now because he's since managed to equal the record number of wins by a horse in Hong Kong for a season."

That Beauty Generation has become only the third horse in Hong Kong history to clock seven wins in a season, all at a high grade, tells you this is a horse Moore and Purton have operating at rarified levels.

It is his relentless running style that makes Beauty Generation so difficult to live with.

Referring to Beauty Generation's occasional antics away from the track - he dropped work rider Romain Clavreul on the way back to his stable a couple of weeks ago - Purton says: "He has plenty of life in him but when you get him in a race or in a working situation he is a brilliant horse to ride.

"He begins well, rolls from the gate, gets into his stride and just bowls along if left to do what he wants to do. He's producing the goods for me so I'm not going to upset him.

"Horses who try to go with him or put pressure on through the early to middle stages of the race fall in a hole by the time they get to the 400-metre mark. They can’t keep up that pressure or sustain that speed.

"Horses who are back in the field have to try to catch him but he doesn't stop, he just continues to gallop along.

"He has an asset, we know how to use it and as long as he's fit and healthy he can continually produce those performances."

Purton is no stranger to international success having claimed a Royal Ascot victory for Hong Kong on the Danny Shum-trained Little Bridge in the 2012 King's Stand Stakes.

Royal procession: Zac Purton punches the air as Little Bridge lands the 2012 King's Stand Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

And with Beauty Generation having frightened off international competition ahead of the Champions Mile, connections are now tempted to travel for the first time to take on the best in Japan - including perhaps Almond Eye and Danon Premium - in the Yasuda Kinen on June 2.

"It's still on the table and it's the one race the owners have been keen to discuss," Purton says. "Everything will depend on how he goes here and how he pulls up. If everything goes to plan there is a good chance he'll go but it's not set in stone."

The one thing Beauty Generation has left to prove is that he can reproduce his undoubted brilliance away from the comforts of Sha Tin.

But the memory of his shattering performance last December against Japanese stars Vivlos and Persian Knight, as well as European milers One Master and Beat The Bank, means the bar is already set at a world-beating level.

After reeling off wins in the Stewards' Cup, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Chairman's Trophy, could Beauty Generation sign off his record-breaking season with a new superlative?

Purton on Moore: 'John has proved time and time again with horses of this calibre, he continually gets them right and ready on the big days.'Credit: Vince Caligiuri

"I think we'll see a better horse come the Champions Mile," says Purton. "Is he going to produce a personal best? I thought December was probably a peak. With the way our season is structured it can be difficult to get horses to peak twice, but John has proved himself time and again with horses of this calibre. He gets them right and ready on the big days."

It has been a season of relentless triumph for Purton and he has long been assured of retaining his jockeys' title, having passed the century once again in early April.

After the pulsating dogfight with Joao Moreira in 2017-18, when Purton came out on top by 136 wins to 134, there have been fewer fireworks this term.

But even at an age and a place in his career arc which should see him at the height of his powers, Purton is defined as much by his humility as by his drive to succeed.

He says: "It’s not going to be as easy next season because Joao's going to freelance again so we're going to be fighting over all the rides and it may not be as easy for either of us to get to the 100 mark as quickly as I have this season. I've had a lot of support and been very lucky. I've had a great season thus far but of course I want to finish it off as strongly as I can."

Among his other landmarks, Purton slipped past Tony Cruz at the end of March to become the all-time second most successful jockey in Hong Kong and, with a fair wind behind him, will pass the 1,000 winner mark sometime next season.

In control: Beauty Generation leaves a high-class international field trailing in his wake in the Longines Hong Kong Mile last DecemberCredit: Hugh Routledge

But it is clear Beauty Generation offers him that once-in-a-career chance to forge his name in the history books, much as Hugh Bowman will be forever linked with Winx.

"It’s one of the things missing off my CV," Purton says. "I've ridden a lot of good horses and won a lot of big races but I've never been on a horse who quite had the calibre of a champion. It's nice to be able to finally throw my leg over one who is as good as this and as consistent too. Hopefully there's still plenty of juice in his tank."

Zac Attack

Beauty Generation won't be his only high-profile opportunity for Purton on FWD Champions Day. Here he assesses the chances of his other Group 1 rides

Exultant (FWD QEII Cup)

Against strong opposition over 2,000m in the QEII the barrier is going to be vital for him. He doesn't have a lot of gate speed so you're going to need to draw right and find yourself in the right spot.

Exultant provided the home team with a rare win in the Longines Hong Kong Vase last December and will be out to prove himself as effective over 2,000m in the FWD QEII CupCredit: Vince Caligiuri

We have the Japanese horses [Lys Gracieux and Deirdre] coming back and they are quite strong. We have our four-year-olds coming through from the Derby, which adds another dimension, so it’s really interesting and a really difficult race.

It's one of the only big races in Hong Kong that has eluded me but I think I'm on the right horse.

Mr Stunning (Chairman's Sprint Prize)

I was a little bit disappointed in the Sprint Cup. Although he hadn't raced in ten weeks he had three trials and, from what I could see, I thought he'd done enough.

Trainer Frankie Lor (second left) and Zac Purton talk through Mr Stunning's chances at the launch event for FWD Champions DayCredit: Hkjc

He usually wants a horse to follow but the leader missed the start and he was left in that position by default. The problem with the Chairman's Sprint Prize is that there is no speed in the race again so that may not suit us.

There are a few little question marks around him but he is very honest and always gives his best. If he gets the right circumstances I believe he can come on enough to get the job done again.