Beauty Generation wins The Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup

Beauty Generation (NZ) bolstered his position at the top of the jurisdiction's sprinter-miler ranks when taking out the Gr1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The John Moore-trained five-year-old, ridden by Zac Purton, settled outside leader Peniaphobia (Dandy Man) in the early stages of the HK$10 million feature before assuming the lead entering the straight.

The gelding was joined on his inside by the Joao Moreira-ridden Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook) approaching the 100m, but Beauty Generation was stoic to the line, holding off the favourite to score by a head.

"He was headed, but he waits for the other horses to come to him a little bit," Purton said.

"He gives a bit of a kick and then he just wanders. I think I have Joao to thank, though.

He snuck up on my inside, quiet as a church mouse, but as he got on level terms, he roared at his horse – but my horse kicked!"

Beauty Generation was originally purchased as a BMW Hong Kong Derby horse by Moore and was campaigned over further as a four-year-old last season.

However, he did boast a pre-import placing in the 2016 G2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) behind Group One winners Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) and Le Romain (Hard Spun), suggesting he could have a future over shorter trips.

Moore decided to give Beauty Generation his chance as a miler this term, though, and since his first-up win in the Gr.3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) in October, he has won three of his five starts, including the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m).

"He's very versatile, isn't he?" Moore said.

"He was one of our Derby horses and that's what we thought he'd be, but at the beginning of this season I approached (owner) Patrick (Kwok) and said, 'I'm going to make a miler of him,' and we did.

We have put the speed into him and he's kicked on, he's come back to 1400m and he's won today so I've been proven right – and I think Patrick is still scratching his head and wondering how we've done it.

"It was the first time that Purton had been aboard Beauty Generation on raceday since he finished a disappointing eighth in the Gr.3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) in April last year.

The rider had previously scored wins over 1600m and 2200m aboard the son of Road To Rock, but this season, Derek Leung had been his regular pilot.

"He's definitely surprised us all at the level he's got to, but I did say to John last season that I thought he'd be a better horse next season," said Purton, who won four races on the Sha Tin card.

"I think he's proven that he's a 1400m to 1600m horse, somewhere around that range just seems to suit him.

He gets out, he makes all, he's got that high cruising speed and he can kick.

"Moore said that Beauty Generation had been invited for the Gr.1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan on 31 March, but that a trip abroad remained unlikely for the five-year-old.

Beauty Generation was a $60,000 purchase from the Highden Park draft at the Select session of the 2014 NZB National Yearling Sale.

He commenced his career in Australia under the name Montaigne where he had seven starts that produced two wins along with a runner-up finish in the Gr.

1 Rosehill Guineas behind Tarzino (NZ) (Tavistock) before finishing fourth to Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel) in the Gr.1 The BMW.

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