Hong Kong’s Heavyweights Trial for Upcoming Targets

[Wandering Eyes]

Led by reigning Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), several of Hong Kong’s top-rated horse trialled Friday morning in advance of upcoming big-race targets, both at home and further afield.

Winner of six straight overall, including a successful defence of his title in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December and a victory in last month’s G1 Stewards’ Cup, Beauty Generation took part in the day’s first heat over 1000 metres up the straight, intended, in part, to sharpen his speed a bit as he drops back in trip for next Sunday’s G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m). In touch from the word go, Beauty Generation was never asked for too much effort by Zac Purton and crossed the line third, beaten two lengths by ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), who will target the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) next weekend (video).

“He’s going well,” Purton told the HKJC’s David Morgan. “He gave me a good feel. He’s at that stage where every time you get on him, he feels good–he doesn’t feel any different to how he’s felt so far this season.”

Elusive State (Aus) (All American {Aus}) has won four straight this season, the last three over the Sha Tin all-weather (i.e. dirt) track, to take his rating from 57 up to a current mark of 93. Having been given entries for the G2 Godolphin Mile as well as the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup itself at the end of March, the Tony Millard-trainee took over entering the turn of a 1200m dirt trial and strolled home by some five lengths (video). Conte (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), second to Beauty Generation in the Stewards’ Cup and heading for a rematch in the QSJC, covered a lot ground, but finished well for second. Elusive State preps for a potential Dubai trip in a Class 2 over an extended mile of the all-weather Mar. 10.

Simply Brilliant (GB) (Frankel {GB}), recent winner of the G3 January Cup H. (1800m) at Happy Valley, will stretch out to the metric mile and a quarter for the Gold Cup and he took out the day’s second trial on the dirt, besting G1 Centenary Sprint Prize hero Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus})–trialling for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee–by three-parts of a length (video). A further half-length back in third was Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), winner of two straight over the 1400 metres and a candidate for the final two legs of the 4YO Classic series, next Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) Mar. 17. Fifth was G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup upsetter Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko), who will join his barnmate Simply Brilliant in the Gold Cup.

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