Making full use of his inside barrier, Zac Purton sent the odds-on favourite Beauty Generation to the front in Sunday's Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin and dared his opponents to run him down.
None could, and the John Moore-trained gelding staked his claim for Horse Of The Year honours with his third Group 1 of the season following the Silver Jubilee on February 25 and the Hong Kong Mile back on December 10.
The son of Road To Rock defeated the John Size-trained Western Express (Encosta de Lago) by a length with Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt) three-quarter of a length back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
"He didn't muster speed as well as I would have liked," Purton said.
"The others on the outside were in a bit of a hurry to get across me but luckily we were able to kick up underneath them and hold our spot.
"He is just honest – goes out and runs the same race every time and when he gets circumstances to suit you see how good he is."
Bred by Nearco Stud, Beauty Generation was a $60,000 purchase by Hermes Syndications from the Highden Park draft at the 2014 NZB Select Yearling Sale.
The 5yo gelding commenced his career with Anthony Cummings in Australia under the name Montaigne where he had seven starts that produced two wins and was runner-up in the 2016 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas behind Tarzino (Tavistock) before finishing fourth to Preferment (Zabeel) in the Group 1 The BMW.
Bred by Nearco Stud, Beauty Generation was offered by Highden Park at the 2014 NZB Select Sale, where he was knocked down to Hermes Syndications for $60,000.
He is the third foal of the unraced Bel Esprit mare Stylish Bell who is a half-sister to stakes winners Victory Trump (Euclase) and Savage Attack (Made Of Gold).
Stylish Bel has a 2yo colt by Echoes Of Heaven and a weanling colt by Tavistock.
She was covered by Tavistock's ATC Australian Derby winner and Beauty Generations conqueror Tavistock last spring.
Beauty Generation is the lone Group 1 winner for the Group 1 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Group 1 AJC George Main Stakes winner Road To Rock (Encosta de Lago) who stands at Wellfield Stud where his 2017 Fee was set at $4,500 + GST.
