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Probably the highest standard race on the big day is the Longines Hong Kong Mile run at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Beauty Generation has won the last two runnings. Can he win the 2019 Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday again?
2019 LONGINES HONG KONG MILE - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Longines Hong Kong Mile is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for the milers at Sha Tin conducted by Hong Kong Jockey Club.
It is run as part of the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) meeting run in December each year.
The Longines Hong Kong Mile is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1991 and was won by Additional Risk.
The first runnings were as the International Bowl and run over the 1400m.
It was a Group 3 in 1994 then Group 2 before it became a Group 1 from 1999 when stepped up to the mile.
Most wins by a Trainer (4): John Moore.
Most wins by a Jockey (3): Olivier Doleuze and Zac Purton.
Good Ba Ba won three straight Longines Hong Kong Miles while Monopolize from Australia scored twice.
Australian horses won three in a row from 1995/1996/1997. After Monopolize, Catalan Opening swept home for legends Darren Beadman and Bart Cummings.
One of the great editions was in 2000. Dual Cox Plate winner Sunline took on the local champ Fairy King Prawn and they cleared out for a soul stirring battle as the "horse of Hong Kong came after the mare of the world".
Beauty Generation won multiple G1s following his 2017 victory and backed it up in 2018. He was one of Hong Kong's four home trained winners on International Day 2018. Becoming one of the best rated horses in the world, he would win a string of local G1 races.
The Longines Hong Kong Mile is worth HK$25m in 2019.
Notable winners of the Longines Hong Kong Mile include Beauty Generation (2017/2018), Maurice (2015), Able Friend (2014), Ambitious Dragon (2012), Able One (2011), Good Ba Ba (2007/2008/2009), Lucky Owners (2003), Sunline (2000), Jim And Tonic (1998), Catalan Opening (1997) and Monopolize (1995/1996).
The 2018 Longines Hong Kong Mile was won by Beauty Generation from Vivlos and Southern Legend.
