‘Generation’ Worth the Weight, Hot King Prawn Takes Next Step at Sha Tin

[Wandering Eyes]

When next they meet in the final course-and-distance preps for the Longines Hong Kong International Races in a months’ time, it will be at set weights (with penalties). But for now, Hong Kong’s top gallopers continued their preparations towards December’s main events under handicap conditions in Sunday’s G2 Sha Tin Trophy (1600mT) and the G2 Premier Bowl (1200mT).

Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) was a warm item to continue his winning ways in the Sha Tin Trophy, but as the top-rated horse locally, was asked to carry 133 pounds while giving weight to some pretty serious horses, including ‘TDN Rising Star’ and MG1SW Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), former Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and the up-and-coming Singapore Sling (SAf) (Philanthropist).

Forced to deal with that impost and pressed through the opening 1200 metres by last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup winner Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko), Beauty Generation turned in another brilliant performance from the front, swatting away his longer-winded rival in upper stretch and holding a late surge from Singapore Sling. Eagle Way (Aus), who wants much further than Sunday’s mile trip, ran a cracking race in third ahead of Pakistan Star, who sat handy and stayed on admirably for fourth.

“The fact that he conceded more weight here means that I feel there was more merit in the win today,” said jockey Zac Purton. “He just needs to hold his form through to December now.”

In the Premier Bowl, the punters hammered Ivictory (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) into even-money favouritism while much better at the weights with Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), who got the better of his stablemate in the G3 National Day Cup H. up the 1000m straight course Oct. 1. But the chalk blew up in the last furlong and the progressive Hot King Prawn ran his record to 8-from-9 with a front-running success. Fifty Fifty (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) sliced through late to be second ahead of Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who was having his first run for Frankie Lor, having been transferred from Lor’s former mentor, John Size.

“We got across the field within a hundred metres and from then on it was pretty much all over,” said jockey Sam Clipperton, posting just his second victory of the season. “I was able to throw the brakes on and because I got those cheap sectionals mid race it was always going to be very hard for them to run us down.”

Ivictory was poised throughout just off the flank of the eventual winner, but ran out of gas with a furlong to race and dropped out to last.

“He travelled pretty comfortably and got a nice run outside the winner,” Zac Purton said. “But when I asked him there was nothing there.”

Pedigree Notes:
Beauty Generation is one of two foals from his dam to make the races and is kin to a yearling filly by Tavistock (NZ). Stylish Bel was most recently covered by Tavistock’s G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 VRC Derby winner Tarzino (NZ), who stands at Westbury Stud. For more information on Hot King Prawn, his family and his breeder, read “Torryburn-breds on a tear in Hong Kong“ from the TDNAusNZ edition of Oct. 17, 2018.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
ORIENTAL WATCH SHA TIN TROPHY H.-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£415,707/€471,517/A$760,312/US$542,037), Sha Tin, 10-21, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.07, gd.
1–BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ), 133, g, 6, by Road to Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus)
2nd Dam: Stylish Victory (Aus), by Durham Ranger
3rd Dam: Romantic Peace (Aus), by Mikado (Aus)
(NZ$60,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Miler & MG1SW-HK, G1SP-Aus, 24-11-3-4, HK$46,205,720. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Singapore Sling (SAf), 117, g, 5, Philanthropist–Sing Dixie Sing (SAf), by Western Winter. (R225,000 Ylg ’15 CAPJAN). O-Nikki Ng Mien Hua; B-; T-Tony Millard; HK$935,000.
3–Eagle Way (Aus), 119, g, 6, More Than Ready–Wedgetail Eagle (Aus), by Lure. (A$200,000 Ylg ’14 INGEAS). O-Siu Pak Kwan; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty Ltd (NSW); T-John Moore; HK$488,750.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 11-10, 32-5, 210-1.
Also Ran: Pakistan Star (Ger), Exultant (Ire), Nothingilikemore (Aus), Werther (NZ), Seasons Bloom (Aus), Beauty Only (Ire), Rise High (Fr), Nassa (SAf), Dinozzo (Ire), Thewizardofoz (Aus), Time Warp (GB).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
PREMIER BOWL H.-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£415,707/€471,517/A$760,312/US$542,037), Sha Tin, 10-21, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.23, gd.
1–HOT KING PRAWN (AUS), 122, g, 4, by Denman (Aus)
1st Dam: De Chorus (Aus), by Unbridled’s Song
2nd Dam: Val de Grace (Aus), by Centaine (Aus)
3rd Dam: Renasans (Aus), by Ashabit (Aus)
(A$90,000 Ylg ’16 INGCLS). O-Lau Sak Hong; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-John Size; J-Sam Clipperton; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: 9-8-1-0, HK$10,382,800. *1/2 to Siren’s Fury (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), GSW-Aus, A$383,775. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: C.
2–Fifty Fifty (NZ), 128, g, 6, Thorn Park (Aus)–Udiditagain (NZ), by D’Cash (Aus). (NZ$75,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL). O-Lee Wan Keung & Lee Wong Wai Kuen; B-; T-Peter Ho; HK$935,000.
3–Mr Stunning (Aus), 133, g, 6, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–With Fervour, by Dayjur. (A$110,000 Wlg ’13 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg ’14 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo Win Chong; B-Makybe Breeding & Racing (Vic); T-Frankie Lor; HK$488,750.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 33-10, 12-1, 67-10.
Also Ran: Born In China (GB), Winner’s Way (Aus), Not Listenin’tome (Aus), Jumbo Luck (Aus), California Whip, Pingwu Spark (NZ), Ivictory (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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