Dominant Beauty Generation makes it a perfect ten on Sha Tin return

Hong Kong superstar Beauty Generation made a sparkling return to action on Tuesday when breaking Sha Tin's seven-furlong track record by over a quarter of a second as he extended his winning streak to ten with a commanding performance in the Celebration Cup.

John Moore's gelding was bidding to land the Group 3 handicap for the third year in a row and was sent off at 2-5 under regular rider Zac Purton.

The seven-year-old had to concede 20lb to all bar one of nine rivals but any notion he might be vulnerable under 9st 7lb after a five-month break was dismissed when he bounded home in 1min 20.05sec to add to the course records he already holds over a mile and a mile and three furlongs.

Purton hailed Beauty Generation as "just an amazing horse" and is adamant he remains as good if not better than ever despite reaching an age when some Group 1 horses start to feel the pinch in top company.

Celebration Cup result

He said: "I always said that we only just started to see the best of him at the end of last season, so I believe that he still has plenty ahead of him now."

Moore faces retirement next July having reached the upper age limit of 70 for Hong Kong trainers but is determined to savour his swansong and outlined a plan that could climax with a tilt at the Dubai Turf at Meydan next March.

"If everything goes to plan Dubai is definitely on the cards," he said. "It's the twilight of my career and I'd love to take him there and let the whole world see how good he is."

Much pre-race conversation had centred around whether former Andrew Balding inmate Ka Ying Star, formerly named Urban Aspect, would try to exert pressure on Beauty Generation's freewheeling style in the early stages.

On a baking hot day with the track riding fast, Tony Cruz's gelding duly led under Karis Teetan, with Purton content to stalk in second in a race run at an even pace.

Beauty Generation looked set to come home clear when he unleashed his trademark surge to power ahead early in the straight and, despite getting tired close home, he passed the post a length and a quarter clear of Ka Ying Star, with the former John Oxx-trained Waikuku staying on well in third.

Purton added: "To do what he does defies logic. He's gone into this race the heaviest he's ever weighed in his life off one soft 1,000m trial, carrying the grandstand against horses with a feather weight on their backs.

"Ka Ying Star did me a big favour in giving me a lead and it was good to have something there to focus on and follow."

Fears the civil unrest and anti-government demonstrations which have been part of Hong Kong life for the past three months could lead to racecourse protests on National Day proved unfounded.

A small number of protesters began chanting above the paddock after the Chinese national anthem was played just under an hour before the first race but they left the track soon after, pursued by an eager media scrum.

The rest of the afternoon proceeded as normal with Joao Moreira collecting a four-timer initiated by Full Of Beauty, who ran out a narrow winner of the Group 3 National Day Cup for champion trainer John Size.

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