By Alan Carasso
Twenty-nine year old Derek Leung made his Longines Hong Kong International Races debut just 12 months ago, piloting Beauty Flame (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) to a 13th-place effort behind fellow Kwok colorbearer Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the 2016 G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. Leung, a product of the Hong Kong Apprentice Jockeys' School, had been given the opportunity to ride Patrick Kwok's Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus})–third in a pair of the 4-year-old Classics last winter–this season, and he made the most of the opportunity with wins in the G3 Celebration Cup H. and the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. Trainer John Moore decided to stick with Leung for Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile despite a third to Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 19, and the decision proved a shrewd one when Beauty Generation took them coast-to-coast.
The Mile appeared on paper to be devoid of any serious speed, bar, perhaps Karar (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), but when that one didn't jump, it was fairly clear that something could control the race from the front. Contentment (Aus) (Hussonet) and Horse of Fortune (SAf) (Stronghold {GB}) showed the 'most' early interest, but sensing that neither was going to go on with it, Leung got aggressive with Beauty Generation and split rivals to lead prior to the end of 200m. Karar, off slowly, made steady progress to be in the top five at the 800-metre mark, but Beauty Generation was still going well, giving the others something to chase. Kicked further into the lead off the home corner, the race was over for all intents and purposes and Leung was able to celebrate a breakthrough success. Western Express (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) followed Horse of Fortune into the lane, peeled off heels and just won a photo for second over the winner's stablemate Helene Paragon (Fr) (Polan {Fr}), who made good ground from the rear. Favored Seasons Bloom ran with credit to be fourth ahead of a slow-starting GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Lancaster Bomber (War Front) in fifth.
“This was a great opportunity and I took advantage,” said Leung. “He never stops and we dictated the pace early on, so at the 450 metres, I pressed the button a bit earlier because I knew he wouldn't stop. He stayed on very well.”
He added: “I want to thank everyone for their support, especially to the owner [Patrick Kwok] and to trainer John Moore. I am always trying to prove myself and I am hoping there will be more international winners in the future.”
Raced in the early portion of his career as Montaigne and trained by Anthony Cummings, Beauty Generation was third in the G3 Hobartville S. and runner-up in the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) prior to his sale to Hong Kong.
Pedigree Notes:
Beauty Generation's unraced dam, by the sire of Black Caviar (Aus), is a half-sister to SW & GSP Savage Attack (Aus) (Made of Gold) and SW & MGSP Victory Trump (Aus) (Euclase {Aus}). Her most recent foal is a 2-year-old colt by Echoes of Heaven (Aus) who fetched NZ$60,000 at the NZB Select Yearling Sale this past February. Stylish Bel was most recently overed by Tavistock (NZ). Beauty Generation is the first top-level scorer for his sire (by Encosta de Lago {Aus}), part-owned and trained by Anthony Cummings to victories in the 2009 G1 George Ryder S. and as the favourite in the 2010 G1 Queen Elizabeth S. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$23,000,000 (£2,201,619/€2,503,535/A$3,922,852/US$2,947,142), Sha Tin, 12-10, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.72, gd.
1–BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ), 126, g, 5, by Road to Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus)
2nd Dam: Stylish Victory (Aus), by Durham Ranger (Aus)
3rd Dam: Romantic Peace (Aus), by Mikado (Aus)
*1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (NZ$60,000 Ylg '14 NZBSEL). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Nearco Stud Limited; T-John Moore; J-Derek Leung; HK$13,110,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Aus, 18-7-3-4, HK$25,830,720. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Western Express (Aus), 126, g, 5, Encosta de Lago (Aus)–Alsatia (Aus), by Marauding (NZ). (A$80,000 Ylg '14 INGMEL). O-Larry Yung Chi Kin; B-F Peisah (NSW); T-John Size; HK$5,060,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Helene Paragon (Fr), 126, h, 5, Polan (Fr)–High Zaff (GB), by High Chaparral (Ire). O-Sir Po-Shing & Lady Woo, Jackson Woo Ka Biu, Dawson Woo Ka Chung & The Exors of the Estate of the Late Wilson Woo Ka Wah; B-A Jordan Torres; T-John Moore; HK$2,300,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 74-10, 35-1, 59-10.
Also Ran: Seasons Bloom (Aus), Lancaster Bomber, Horse of Fortune (SAf), Beauty Only (Ire), Sichuan Dar (Aus), Joyful Trinity (Ire), Lightning Spear (GB), Satono Aladdin (Jpn), Contentment (Aus), Karar (GB), Roly Poly.
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.
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