Superstar miler Beauty Generation breaks Sha Tin course record

Beauty Generation broke the Sha Tin course record on Sunday to reaffirm his status as one of the world's leading racehorses.

The record, previously held by Good Ba Ba, had stood for nearly a decade but in winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile in a time of 1m32.64s Beauty Generation set a new benchmark.

Jockey Club Mile result

Ridden by Zac Purton for trainer John Moore, Beauty Generation broke alertly but was reined back as the field set off at a fast pace. Purton made a big mid-race move to sit on the shoulder of the leader on the turn for home and, despite hanging left in the straight, always looked to have matters under control.

The stunning three-length victory earned Beauty Generation, who has won three Group 1s, a comparison with one of Hong Kong's finest ever milers, Able Friend.

Moore said: "Breaking the track record and doing it like he did – that was like Able Friend. It was the charge of the light brigade early but Zac did the right thing. People around the world are going to stand up and say there's a very good horse in Hong Kong."

Purton said: "The pace for the first half mile was ridiculous and I wasn't going to burn my horse just to stay with them. He's very good and John has turned him out in better and better shape every start."

Moore made it a big-race double in the following race at Sha Tin as British champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa delivered Eagle Way to perfection in the Jockey Club Cup, pouncing late off a strong pace to set a course record over 1m2f.

Jockey Club Cup result

Moreira back with a bang

Joao Moreira cemented his new partnership with John Size by winning the Group 1 Jockey Club Sprint on Hot King Prawn just 24 hours after being granted a six-month licence in Hong Kong as stable jockey to the champion trainer.

Moreira – whose attempt to obtain a licence to ride in Japan was kiboshed by a failed written test – sent Hot King Prawn straight into the lead and never looked in trouble as his mount held on to make it nine wins from ten starts.

Moreira said: "It’s such a pleasure to be back riding a horse like this for John.

"He was so fast out of the gate and when I asked him to go in the straight I was always confident that he could hold on."

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