By Alan Carasso
Reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) faces arguably his biggest test of the season as he cuts back to 1400 metres for the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin.
It was 12 months ago that Beauty Generation, exiting a below-par seventh in the G1 Stewards' Cup, atoned for that effort with a gritty head defeat of the progressive Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in this event. He would go on to win the G1 Champions Mile to clinch year-end honours and has not tasted defeat since, including imperious wins in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December and in this year's Stewards' Cup (as the $1.15 chalk) last time out.
While it is true that Beauty Generation is a far superior animal to this time last year, so, too, is Beat the Clock, and he comes into this rematch on the heels of a tough-as-nails success in the G1 Centenary Sprint Prize Jan. 20, besting dual G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) by a neck. The John Size yard is also represented by the talented Conte (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), who was no match for Beauty Generation in the Stewards', but returns to the trip over which he won the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup H. two starts back.
Despite the formidable competition, Beauty Generation's trainer John Moore remains supremely confident.
“It's a fraction on the short side for him when you're going in against Beat The Clock and Conte–this is probably their most preferable distance,” he told HKJC's David Morgan. “But this horse, he is who he is, and I don't think John Size will be wanting his two to take him on, they'll sit and sprint.”
Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) looks to make it three wins on the hop in the co-featured G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m). The G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) victor took advantage of an ideal set-up to easily account for Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) in the G3 Centenary Vase H. (1800m) Jan. 27.
Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) looks to defend his title in the race in which he broke the two-minute barrier last year, but will have to avoid a speed duel, even if trainer Frankie Lor has suggested that his full-brother and 2018 Hong Kong Cup winner Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko) would not engage early.
'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) has yet to finish in the top three this season and was a latest fourth over an insufficient mile in the Stewards' Cup. In an attempt to shake things up, trainer Tony Cruz reaches out for Tommy Berry, who partnered Pakistan Star en route to victory in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup.
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