Shock as hot favourite Beauty Generation beaten in Champions Mile photo-finish

Southern Legend caused a major upset to deny Beauty Generation in a photo-finish and claim Sunday's Champions Mile at Sha Tin.

The pair pulled clear in the straight and it looked as though Beauty Generation would power clear and land a historic third victory in the race but his rival had other ideas and held on to win by a short head.

Southern Legend was supposed to be bidding for a hat-trick of his own in the Kranji Mile in Singapore but could not due to travel restrictions and instead recorded the biggest win of his career.

It was a first top-level victory for Southern Legend, who finished half a length behind Beauty Generation on his previous start, and a breakthrough Group 1 success for jockey Vincent Ho.

"We had planned to go for three wins in a row in the Singapore race but when this virus hit we had to change plans pretty quickly," said winning trainer Caspar Fownes after his first Champions Mile victory.

"He's beaten the best on their day, there's no doubt about that –when horses were flying, he beat Pakistan Star, Nothingilikemore and now the best horse Hong Kong's ever seen, Beauty Generation.

"This is all about Vincent, he deserves that more than anyone. With hard work, if you keep plugging away, things will come your way. For him to make his breakthrough on my horse is extra special."

Sha Tin results

It is likely to be the last time Beauty Generation runs for John Moore in Hong Kong, with the legendary 70-year-old trainer relocating to Rosehill in Sydney at the end of the season as the Jockey Club will not allow him to extend his licence due to his age.

"We were gallant in defeat, look at the bobs, the bob is just against him – if he'd got the head down we'd have won. It could have gone the other way, it just wasn't our day," he said.

"I'd like to take him for a mile race in Australia and then have him stay there at the Living Legends Farm. That's what I'd like to do but what the Kwok family [owners] wants to do is what counts, I don't know whether they'll keep racing him or retire him."

Waikuku, considered by many to be the main threat to odds-on favourite Beauty Generation, finished third after coming from off the pace, with Rattan claiming fourth for trainer Richard Gibson.

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