Another Record for Beauty Generation, Dubai New Target

Look out world. Here comes Beauty Generation.

Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation opened his 2019-20 campaign Oct. 1 in the Celebration Cup Handicap (G3) at Sha Tin Racecourse off limited preparation, toting 133 pounds and giving as much as 20 pounds to his rivals. He also faced a stiff headwind down the backstretch.

None of it mattered as the multiple group 1-winning Road To Rock gelding quickly kicked to the front when asked by jockey Zac Purton in the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) race, won comfortably by 1 1/4 lengths over Ka Ying Star, and reported in course-record time of 1:20.05. Beauty Generation now holds Sha Tin records at distances of 1,400 meters, 1,600 meters, and 2,200 meters.

"He's just an amazing horse," Purton said. "To do what he does defies logic to a certain degree. We only just started to see the best of him at the end of last season so I believe he's still got plenty ahead of him now."

What the New Zealand-bred did last season was go undefeated in eight starts, with convincing victories in both of Hong Kong's international mile races, the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) in December and the FWD Champions Mile (G1) in April. Both of those were against international competition—albeit on his home turf—and earned him top rating among the world's turf milers.

Beauty Generation's owner, Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen, spent much of last year lobbying for an overseas raid, only to be overruled by his family. Now, trainer John Moore is adding his considerable influence to the cause.

"He's the best in Hong Kong and he's one of the best in the world," Moore said. "They've got to come to beat him in December and if the owner agrees, we'll take him to Dubai and prove him on the world stage. That's definitely in my diary, if everything goes to plan up to then.

"It's the twilight of my career and I'd love to take him overseas and win a group 1, to let the whole world see how good he is," Moore added. "I would regret it 100% if we didn't try it, but the owner has talked about traveling so I think if he's sound and healthy, definitely. He's done everything else but he hasn't won offshore and I'm of the opinion he'll definitely travel. But let's take them as they come and we can talk about Dubai when that time is approaching."

The race being an early-season test for some of Hong Kong's top horses, the minor place-getters were satisfied with the outcome

Ka Ying Star's rider, Karis Teetan, said his mount "was a little bit green getting to the front and I had to use him a little bit to go around Zac. He saved a lot of ground when he got to the front but he was beaten by a champion."

Last season's BMW Hong Kong Derby runner-up, Waikuku, was third in the Celebration Cup and rider Joao Moreira called it "a good run. It felt like he was still carrying a little bit of condition so he should improve for this run."