Waikuku Edges Beauty Generation in Stewards' Cup

Waikuku grabbed the baton as Hong Kong's top miler Jan. 19 at Sha Tin Racecourse, edging two-time Horse of the Year Beauty Generation by a neck after a spirited stretch battle in the Stewards' Cup (G1).

It was the first top-level victory for the 5-year-old Harbour Watch gelding and the fourth consecutive loss for Beauty Generation, a 7-year-old Road To Rock gelding who started the season by extending his winning streak to 10 races. After an improved effort, Beauty Generation may yet keep a date in Dubai in March.

In the second feature, Beat The Clock found running room just in time to win the Centenary Sprint Cup (G1) for the second straight year.

Beauty Generation, breaking from the rail under Zac Purton, took a narrow lead down the Sha Tin backstretch, shadowed by Ka Ying Star. Waikuku was last of seven and widest of all during the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) race as they turned into the stretch, but he and Beauty Generation quickly left the others behind.

In the final 100 meters, Waikuku slipped by outside Beauty Generation to take a narrow lead, and they raced that way to the finish in 1:33.04, the eighth-fastest time at the course and distance in a decade. Ka Ying Star was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third.

Waikuku's rider, Joao Moreira, was full of praise for both victor and vanquished.

"Beauty Generation is not done," Moreira said. "He proved today that he's in great form. He just needs to bring what he's got, and he's always going to be very tough. But, fortunately, I've got a very nice horse with such amazing ability."

Now that his horse has hit the top rung, trainer John Size said he's going to be patient about the next step—likely the FWD Champions Mile (G1) in April.

"I might give him a little break now and just aim for that race," Size said. "He's been going very well this season. He's made improvement along the way and delivered on his promises, so he's just a lovely horse to have in the stable."

Beauty Generation's trainer, John Moore, echoed Moreira's thought that his old champ isn't done and said he hopes the owners will agree to try him in the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.

"He was gallant in defeat," Moore said. "Our boy is on the slow fade but is capable of running a big one in Dubai if we get the go-ahead. The 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) there, putting him on the other leg (racing left-handed), I think it would really rejuvenate him. And he won't meet Waikuku in Dubai, so the trip would be the best way forward."

In the Centenary Sprint Cup, Beat The Clock delivered his fourth group 1 win and a group 1 double on the day for Size and Moreira. The 6-year-old Hinchinbrook gelding entered the race off a victory in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) in December.

After a tardy start, Beat The Clock was full of run emerging from the turn but briefly void of running room. When a seam opened, he went through willingly and was a head in front of Thanks Forever at the finish. Hot King Prawn was third, and the winner's longtime foe, Mr Stunning, settled for fifth.

The final time for the 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) was 1:08.57.

Moreira said he was worried when Beat The Clock missed the start.

"He quickly got back into the race. I had to give him a chance from there, just ride for luck, and the split came at the right time," the jockey said. "Once again, he proved that he's probably the best sprinter in Hong Kong."

Size said he's considering giving Beat The Clock a chance in the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) Feb. 16—a race in which he finished second in 2018 and 2019, both times behind Beauty Generation.

"It's the next race on the program that's suitable for him," Size said. "He's raced in the last two editions of it, so we'll see how he is at home. He's getting older, and whether he can tolerate another race that quickly, I'm not sure. But he'll let us know."

Size has won seven of the past 10 group 1 sprint races in Hong Kong, all with horses imported unraced.

"There's a lot of luck as well as good management," he said.