Karaka Graduates Conquer HK International Day

Karaka graduates had already been to the fore with a quinella in the Hong Kong Sprint, but an all-the-way win by Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock) in Sunday's HK$23 million Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m) ensured that the 2017 Hong Kong International Races were an unforgettable day for the New Zealand thoroughbred industry.

Bred by Nearco Stud and offered by Highden Park at the 2014 Select Sale, Beauty Generation was bought for $60,000 by Hermes Syndications.

That purchase price is now dwarfed by the more than HK$20 million (NZ$3.75 million) he has earned from just 11 Hong Kong starts, five of which have been victories.

The five-year-old had won twice at black-type level in the countdown to Sunday's feature, taking out the HK$3 million Celebration Cup (1400m) and the HK$4 million Sha Tin Trophy (1600m). But in the race that mattered most, he stepped up and delivered a supreme performance.

With Derek Leung in the saddle for trainer John Moore and owner Patrick Kwok, Beauty Generation went straight to the lead from his wide gate and never surrendered that advantage. He ran his rivals off their feet, crossing the line one length clear and stopping the clock at 1:33.56.

"He's done everything right from day one, this horse," Moore said. "He had the gun run and was able to dictate the terms of the race.

"We tried him over more ground last season and he ran well, but he has a turn of foot at the mile (1600 metres). He's run so well today."

Under his previous name Montaigne, Beauty Generation started seven times in Australia for A$322,000 in prize-money including placings in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Group 2 Hobartville Stakes.

The 2013 Hong Kong Mile had been won byGlorious Days(Hussonet), who went through the 2009 Premier and Ready to Run Sales at Karaka and was passed in on both occasions. The 2012 winnerAmbitious Dragon(NZ) (Pins) was passed in at the 2008 Select Sale.

The HK$18.5 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) is one of the world's great sprint races, and graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock sales have played a starring role in recent years. In Sunday's 2017 edition, the two Karaka graduates in the field finished first and second.

Following in the footsteps of the $120,000 Premier Sale purchase Aerovelocity(NZ) (Pins), who scored outstanding wins in 2014 and 2016,Mr Stunning(Exceed and Excel) andD B Pin(Darci Brahma) fought out the finish on Sunday.

Two impressive recent stakes wins had made Mr Stunning the favourite for the famous race, and as the John Size-trained runner cruised into contention at the top of the straight he seemed to be set to deliver.

The fiercest challenge came from his stablemate D B Pin, who unleashed a powerful finishing burst on his outside. But Mr Stunning responded to the challenge, holding on to win by a neck.

"I'm lucky I'm on a very good, if not outstanding horse," winning rider Nash Rawiller said. "I was always going to be vulnerable the last 50 metres, but my bloke just kept doing what he needed to do."

Mr Stunning was offered at the 2014 Premier Sale by Lyndhurst Farm, where Hong Kong's Magus Equine bought him for $250,000.

He has now won 10 of his 16 starts and more than HK$25 million (NZ$4.6 million) for owner Maurice Koo Win Chong. This was his fourth black-type win, having previously won the HK$4 million Sprint Cup (1200m), the HK$4 million Premier Bowl (1200m) and the HK$4 million Jockey Club Sprint (1200m).

D B Pin is out of the Group 3-winning Pins marePins 'N' Needles(NZ). That mare is now the dam of two Group 1 performers, withAsavant(NZ) (Zabeel) having earlier run third in a Waikato International Stakes (2000m).

Bred by Willie and Karen Calder, D B Pin was offered in The Oaks Stud's draft at the 2014 Premier Sale. He was bought for $200,000 by John Foote.