By Alan Carasso
Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), last year's G1 Rosehill Guineas runner-up when trained by Anthony Cummings at Montaigne, sent favorite backers home on a positive note Sunday evening, taking out the Class 2 Violet H. cozily in a race that served as a prep for the Hong Kong Classic Mile in two weeks' time.
Sent off the $3.10 (21-10) favorite to improve off a runner-up effort on his Hong Kong debut over 1400m Dec. 27, Beauty Generation was away without incident from the middle of the gate, but was difficult to settle early on beneath Zac Purton. Finally into a good rhythm through the middle stages, the bay was within easy striking distance on the turn and came out four deep into the lane. Beauty Generation loomed up traveling exceptionally well as the furlong pole loomed and looked as if he might bolt in, but he had to work through the final 150m and had a neck margin over California Disegno (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) at the finish (video).
“Zac came back and said this run was very important heading to the Classic Mile,” trainer John Moore said. “He only went for so far and then he bottomed, and all he will do is keep improving from now on. I think it was just the class that showed late, and the signs are really positive heading towards the bigger races.”
Moore is set to be represented by no fewer than four horses in the Classic Mile, including Rodrico (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who followed Beauty Generation's move into the stretch, but weakened to finish a little more than six lengths off his stablemate after a wide passage.
“Rodrico just got trapped deep and off the track and all that so I'd forgive that run,” Moore said. “He's a lighter High Chaparral who we thought might run a little better, but he did have no luck so he's run his race.”
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