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Fifth Group One for Beauty Generation; Beat the Clock wins Centenary Sprint Cup; Authentic Paddy not finished yet; Press Release clears maidens;
Fifth Group One for Beauty Generation
New Zealand-bred galloper Beauty Generation took his Group One tally to five at Sha Tin on Sunday when he dominated his rivals in the Stewards’ Cup (1600m).
The reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year was pushed forward early by jockey Zac Purton and was never headed, winning by three-lengths over Conte, with a further short-head back to Southern Legend in third.
His trainer John Moore hailed Beauty Generation the best he has trained after the victory and said he is keen to test his stable star on foreign soil after a tilt at further Group One glory in Hong Kong.
“He’s the best of the lot,” he said.
“I’d love to travel him, but it’s important that I fit into the route that the Kwok family wants to take. I know their Grand Final is the Champions Mile (Gr.1, 1600m), so that’s our number one focus now – my job is to get him ready for that.
“If he wins the Champions Mile, it’ll be down to the family as to whether we go to Japan for the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1600m) or we put him away for next season. It’s always up to the owner.”
Beauty Generation’s next assignment is likely to be the Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) next month, where he will aim to make it back-to-back victories in the Group One race.
Beauty Generation was purchased for $60,000 out of Highden Park’s 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft by Kylie Bax and raced as Montaigne in Australia before his sale to Hong Kong.
His Tavistock half-sister (lot 443) will be offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale at their Karaka Sales complex next week through the draft of Carlaw Park.
Beat the Clock wins Centenary Sprint Cup
Beat The Clock recorded his first Group One victory when taking out the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Beat The Clock dead-heated with Mr Stunning behind fellow compatriot D B Pin in this race last year and was able to go one better in this year’s running under jockey Joao Moreira.
“Things went quite differently than we thought,” Moreira said.
“I didn’t think Little Giant would lead, but fortunately I was able to get through on his outside and my bloke just attacked the line very strongly.
“The last hundred metres he started to pull up and wait for the others, but he was too good. He had that burst of speed and good horses do that.”
Trainer John Size said he was pleased to finally breakthrough at elite level with Beat The Clock.
“Beat The Clock has taken his time to break through to Group One level but he always promised to do that and today the race was suitable for him and he managed to salute,” Size said.
Beat The Clock is a graduate from the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale. The classy bay was sold out of the Prima Park’s draft for $200,000.
Authentic Paddy not finished yet
Authentic Paddy still has a chance to reach 100 career starts despite a setback at Trentham on Saturday.
The Group One winner dropped out alarmingly before the home turn in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and was eased right down by rider Robert Hannam to completely tail off.
A post-race veterinary inspection revealed he was suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, but trainer Lisa Latta reports he has bounced back.
“He’s well, but I’ll get my vet to check him over tomorrow morning,’’ Latta said on Monday.
‘’He’ll probably have a let let-up and provided he’s all right he’ll race again.’’Authentic Paddy has started 93 times for 11 wins and 48 placings and earned more than $750,000 in prizemoney with his best win coming in the 2017 Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie when beating dual Group One winner Lizzie LÁmour.
His last three starts have all been at Group One level and he has chased home Danzdanzdance when second in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the Zabeel Classic (2000m).
Meanwhile, Latta reports both Secret Allure and Sentimental Miss will head to Te Rapa for the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) on February 9.
The pair clashed in Saturday’s Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham with Secret Allure scoring a convincing win and Sentimental Miss running on for sixth.
‘’Secret Allure won so well and Sentimental Miss will appreciate getting over ground at Te Rapa,’’ Latta said.
Press Release clears maidens
The Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained Press Release was installed a $1.70 favourite for the Aquashield Roofing 1200 at Otaki on Monday and duly delivered for his supporters.
The three-year-old son of Dalghar had finished runner-up in his two recent starts and he was made to work for his maiden win, having to run down pacemaker Wallaceville in the straight to record a 1-1/2 length victory.
“He was good today because he probably got a bit keen there early doors, but Sam (Collett) switched him off and she never panicked. That horse (Wallaceville) gave a really good kick, so it was no mean feat to pick him up and go on with the job.”
While pleased with the maiden victory of Press Release, Benner doesn’t plan on having the colt in his stable for long, with the promising galloper being placed on the market for sale.
“He is a very talented horse and he will keep on improving, but he’s on the market.
“He’ll probably come back here on Group One day (February 23) in a three-year-old 1200m (race) and hopefully get his rating up and (we will then) move him on.”
