This race was set as a celebration of a magnificent season by Beauty Generation, the highest rated horse in the world currently active in training. It panned out exactly as planned as Beauty Generation sauntered to what was the easiest of wins. Zac Purton had time to check out the action on the big screen 200m from home.

The pursuing pack were never a threat, with Singapore Sling second and Simply Brilliant running third.

That was the ninth win in succession for Beauty Generation and his eighth this season, exceeding the record of seven shared by Entrapment and Ambitious Dragon. He eclipsed Viva Pataca’s Hong Kong prize money earnings record, with today’s cheque taking his tally to HK$84,770,000 – about HK$1.5 million above the tally garnered by Viva Pataca. Beauty Generation last year became just the fourth horse to complete the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile and Champions Mile double in the same season – and those to precede him were widely acclaimed as champion performers of their time – Maurice (2015/16), Able Friend (2014/15) and Good Ba Ba (2007/08). He is now the only horse to achieve that twice.

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“It’s what we expected him to do today,” said Purton, “he was a little bit fitter. When he’s out in front like that mid race and there’s nothing around pushing him, he just floats a little bit so my job was to try to keep him rolling and let him do the rest.

“I’d like to think so,” Purton said when asked whether the horse would have more in reserve for a next run, “John wanted me to give him a bit of a push today but….”

Trainer John Moore on his star “Definitely, it’s an amazing achievement,” he said of today’s win, “for the stable and all the staff to be able to keep him up and sustain his fitness level to be able to win these races in such a facile fashion. And thanks to Hong Kong that we’ve had a champion in our midst and we’ve still got a champion miler and the whole world knows we’ve got one hell of a miler over here.

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The racing world is abuzz with the possibility of Beauty Generation going to Japan to take on Danon Premium and Almond Eye in the Yasuda Kinen, something that Moore would not shy away from

“I’d like to go to Japan but of course it is the owner’s call. Patrick (Kwok) and his father (Simon) will make the decision in time.  As I said it was a facile win today and I don’t think it took much out of him in the sense of it being such a long season and I still think there’s a lot left in the tank. Let’s go back to the drawing board and have a talk over dinner.”

“The owners would like to see him break Silent Witness’ record of 17 straights win. More pressure on me. I take two heart tablets a day. To have him in the yard is any trainer’s dream but if we go to Japan to take on the Japanese armada that will be the real telling factor in his career,” he added.

I’m a fan of good racing and the best racing against the best. To see him go to Japan would be the ultimate. While I understand to a point why you wouldn’t go, if he were mine he’d be there in a heartbeat. to see him seal greatness away from Shat Tin would be truly something.

You can see Beauty Generation here.

Thanks to the HKJC for quotes from connections