This is one of the best days racing on the Hong Kong racing calendar. The horses assured of a start on International Day are all here as are those looking to seal their spot. The top twenty rated horses in Hong Kong appeared in the three G2 races, which are run under set weights and penalties.
First of the big three races was the Mile, with Beauty Generation a dominant favourite after two impressive wins in handicaps carrying top weight. There had been some banter during the week, with Beauty Generation’s jockey Zac Purton suggesting it would be unwise for others to test his mounts front running capabilities.
They paid no heed to those words and the early speed was hot – so hot in fact Purton was comfortable enough to settle his mount mid-pack. Once the speed eased he pushed Beauty Generation forward to sit outside the leader, The Golden Age. Once they turned for home, it was no contest with Beauty Generation spacing his rivals, setting a new track record in doing so.
Trainer John Moore was effusive, saying “He was like Able Friend. He reminded me of Able Friend, making the big run and scooting clear from the turn. He’s proved he’s a champion. He had to make two runs out there after it was like the charge of the Light Brigade early and people around the world now will stand up and take notice that there is a very good miler here in Hong Kong,” That is high praise!
Of the early tactical battle, Zac Purton said “They ran the first half mile ridiculously fast and I was happy to let them burn themselves out and then to roll forward around them when they backed it off,”
Beauty Generation laid out considerably in the run home, to which John Moore commented “He had a few shoeing issues coming into this race, but we have three weeks to sort them out, which we will.”
Second home was the ever honest Southern Legend, who is coming along nicely for HKIR, however he has a mammoth task in front go him to turn the tables on Beauty Generation. Trainer Caspar Fownes “I’ve planned my guy to peak at the right time and he’s shown us that today. He’s still run very well in pinching second place. He’ll improve going into the big day but right now it looks a race for second place and I’ll take second place for that prize money. He’s getting better, I’ve saved some improvement into the big day but he’s going to need it because that winner is something else.”
The Jockey Club Cup was also an intriguing race, with brothers Time Warp and Glorious Forever both wanting to lead. Time Warp got the better of Glorious Forever last time out, but did seem to get it a bit easy.
Today they went at each other hammer and tongs, with Joao Moreira determined not to let Zac Purton get away with any easy sectionals on Time Warp. As is often the case in a speed battle, the race was set up for a closer.
The benefactor today was the John Moore trained Eagle Way, who was able to finish over the top of the early speed. Ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, Eagle Way was able to secure his best win since the Queensland Derby in 2016. This time last year, he had been a very sick horse, who was not seen at his best. However Moore has got him back to health and tweaked his routine.
“Eagle Way’s like Beauty Generation in that he’s really hit his straps this season,” Moore said. “We’ve tweaked a few little things and what we’ve tweaked have been the right things
“He has just been progressing – his second start, we saw him finish third; the next run the pace just didn’t suit and he closed to third; today, the way it was run, it was a different situation and he hit the line strong – 2000 metres and more is where he excels.”
Winning today has presented Moore with an interesting dilemma, originally set for the Vase, he is now pondering sticking to 2000m. “We haven’t decided whether we run in the Vase over 2400 or the Cup over 2000,” Moore said.
“We’ll put in a supplementary entry for the Cup before deadline tomorrow and I’ll talk it over with the owner, Mr. Siu, whether we run. I’m hearing that the Cup might be an option worth considering.”
The early speed put paid to Time Warp’s chances – “He had no chance today with Glorious Forever driving us mad like he did,” Purton said.
Moore also had Werther in the race, who finished third “Werther just needed the run; he had a good blow when he pulled up and Douglas Whyte said he’ll improve three to four lengths on that run, so that puts us right in the picture for the Hong Kong Cup on 9 December. If he had run in the Ladies’ Purse he’d have been right in there giving this horse a race,” he said.
The Sprint looked an open affair, however Hot King Prawn, winner of his two starts this season proved too strong. Both his wins to date have come in handicaps receiving considerable weight. He did benefit by five pounds here, but was much closer to his rivals than previously.
He was able to get the lead after jumping well, and never looked like being headed at any stage. It was a triumphal return to Sha Tin for Joao Moreira, who has taken a stable jockey role with trainer John Size. There is no shortage of pickings in the sprint ranks in the stable, but there is no doubt that Moreira will be sticking with Hot King Prawn in three weeks time.
A delighted 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.”
Of his thoughts going forward, Joao is confident “Hot King Prawn is a lovely horse and today he gave me the feeling that he’s a star, so I’m really looking forward to what is next.” On what we saw today, the jump to G1 WFA should present no problems for Hot King Prawn.
Trainer John Size is impressed with the progression of his charge. “He’s made gradual improvement and keeps coming up with the goods,” he said. “We keep turning him out but he helps himself both at home and at the races.”
Runner-up today was last years December Sprint winner Mr Stunning, who acquitted himself well again. Jockey Karis Teetan said “Zac’s horse smashed into him and he fell back half a length but he got his momentum late and hit the line strong.”
Thanks to the HKJC team for quotes from connections.