Sunday, 9 December 2018: Beauty Generation (NZ) and Zac Purton turned on another masterclass when winning the HK$25m, Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday with the John Moore trained six-year-old sweeping aside a field of international milers.

BEAUTY GENERATION winning the The Longines Hong Kong Mile, in Hong Kong.

The Road To Rock gelding came into the race after demolishing the locals by 3L and in race record time to emphasise his superiority in the Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Mile over 1600m on November 18th. There was a question mark over both Beauty Generation’s tendency to drift left in the main straight and if the race record time had taken its toll.

Beauty Generation answered both in such an emphatic manner that the winning margin on Sunday was again 3L and the time was 1.33.52 with Purton easing up over the final 50m so that the two of them cruised to the line.

The win was more than ably assisted by Purton. They had barrier 12 and Purton quietly took Beauty Generation forward easing across for the entire length of the back straight. Eventually at the 700m they were past Comin’ Through (AUS) and Fifty Fifty (NZ) and that was the last time they saw a another runner. The move had been accomplished with balance and Beauty Generation running comfortably.

Back in the field as they went into the turn Persian Knight (JPN) with Marco Demuro were in the last third of the field and effectively their chances were gone already.

As Beauty Generation turned into the main straight Purton allowed him to go four out from the rail and with minimal encouragement the two of them set off for the line. The rest were in a race of their own.

Purton eased off as they approached the line and he allowed himself a celebration shake of his right fist as they crossed as clear champions. It was a superior performance that will mark Beauty Generation as the leading horse this season in Hong Kong and on the world stage.

Vivlos (JPN) (Deep Impact) and William Buick came through for second with Southern Legend (AUS) and Douglas Whyte third, the margin a neck. Beauty Only was fourth and Persian Knight fifth.

“That is what we all hoped we would see today, I am just happy for the horse that he has come out and produced it on a big stage. He has shown everyone how brutally good he can be," said Purton.

“Obviously he had a little bit of a setback and with the feet issues going into his last run when he ran off the track. You never want those things going into a Group 1 race so they do play on your mind a little bit. But once I worked him late this week and he felt good in his work, John Moore asked me to come in yesterday morning to give him a canter on the big track. When I got off him I felt pretty relaxed and I slept pretty well last night.

“His best attribute is he has got a very high cruising speed, he is very comfortable rolling along at that speed and he can kick off it. For the horses back in the field they are already struggling to go the pace and when you have got to try and reel him in it is not an easy thing to do,” he said.

Beauty Only, out of the Bel Esprit mare Stylish Bel, was winning for the 13th time and his 11th in Hong Kong from 19 overall starts. His earnings have sky rocketed to HK$62.878 million for owner Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen.

The win took Purton’s HKIR wins to eight and his second of the meeting after his earlier win on Exultant in the Hong Kong Vase (2400m). For John Moore it was HKIR win number eight.

What the beaten jockey’s said: 2nd – VIVLOS – William Buick “Mr Tomomichi had her in great shape – she ran a really good race and was comfortable through the run, but was beaten by one of the best of the best milers in the world.” 3rd - SOUTHERN LEGEND – Douglas Whyte “It was another great run and a fantastic effort. We decided to ride him positively, close to the pace. I think with a trouble-free trip he might have been second. The winner is clearly a freak.” 4th – BEAUTY ONLY – Hugh Bowman “He is a model of consistency, but he needs to jump and it would be a big help if he did.” 5th - PERSIAN KNIGHT - Mirco Demuro “They went too quick and the surface was too hard.” 6th - NOTHINGILIKEMORE – Joao Moreira “The 11 gate did not help us and he was caught three wide, but he has run well.” 7th - MOZU ASCOT - Christophe Lemaire “From the start, where he stumbled, he never grabbed the bit and was a little lazy – I am disappointed because he can run better than that.” 8th - ONE MASTER – Ryan Moore “She got a bit upset in the gates and the ground was a bit quick. It was tough against these horses on their home turf. But she did not disgrace herself.” 9th - SINGAPORE SLING – Silvestre de Sousa “He ran good, but is just not up to the standard of that race.” 10th - FIFTY FIFTY – James McDonald “He ran OK.” 11th - BEAT THE BANK – Oisin Murphy “He lacks gate speed and got too far back.” 12th - COMIN' THROUGH - Michael Walker “I followed the eventual winner, but I couldn’t go with him.” 13th - WHAT ELSE BUT YOU – Karis Teetan “He was in the perfect spot, but was not good enough.” 14th - INNS OF COURT – Mickael Barzalona “He started well enough and travelled nicely on the inner, but he had just nothing extra to give in the straight.”