Beauty Generation Toppled in Sha Tin Trophy

[Wandering Eyes]

In a pre-race parade ring interview, trainer John Moore told the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Edward Sadler that he was confident that the world’s top-rated miler Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) could run his winning streak to 11 in the G2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy H., but that he’d wished for a wider gate to avoid falling into a box-seat trip.

As if pre-ordained, that scenario is precisely how the 1600-metre test unfolded and when push came to shove at the 200m mark, the two-time reigning Horse of the Year looked vulnerable for the first time in 18 months. The progressive and highly regarded Rise High (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and 2019 Hong Kong Derby runner-up Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) shot past the champ, with the former getting the better of a final-furlong tussle to score by a neck.

Making his first trip to the races since besting Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus}) in the G3 Premier Plate H. (1800m) last June, Rise High settled four back on the fence as Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and reigning G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup hero Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko) went a good gallop. Beauty Generation couldn’t match motors with the leading duo and when Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) was ridden for some speed, that left the 3-10 chalk locked away, resentfully tossing his head around.

Nevertheless, Beauty Generation was very much in the thick of things and when he pushed out three wide at the 600m, he looked to have the race at his mercy. But even though he was in front at the head of the straight, there was none of his trademark acceleration and he was claimed fairly easily by Rise High and Waikuku before those two ding-donged it to the wire.

Winning trainer Caspar Fownes has told anyone who will listen that Rise High is a top horse in the making and he now has options moving towards the Longines Hong Kong International Races in seven weeks’ time.

“He’ll race in November next [G2 Jockey Club Cup, 2000m, Nov. 17] and in December he’ll be entered for the Hong Kong Cup over 2000 metres and the Vase over 2400 metres,” Fownes said. “Entries are free so we’ll have a look and make the decision which way we go after his next run.”

As for the beaten favorite, Moore is certainly not ready to give up.

“Just forgive him for it–wait for set-weights and see what happens,” he said. “It just wasn’t run to suit either, he’s a better horse when he’s left to run along but when he’s in the box seat like that he just doesn’t show the same turn-of-foot,” Moore added. “It was just circumstances that prevented him from rolling along like he likes to. You could see he was heavily restrained in behind and he just wasn’t comfortable like that.”

Second to Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in last year’s G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup (2400m), Rise High hails from the same Wildenstein female family of 2003 Hong Kong Vase heroine Vallee Enchantee (Ire) (Peintre Celebre).

In the afternoon’s co-featured G2 Premier Bowl H., Seasons Bloom, a Group 1-winning miler locally, came from well back and outfinished favored Full of Beauty (Aus) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) for an upset of lesser proportions and significance. Trainer Danny Shum said that the 7-year-old, who was second in thee Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup H. Sept. 1, would pass the Jockey Club preps and would run fresh in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 8.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
ORIENTAL WATCH SHA TIN TROPHY H.-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£423,456/€487,482/A$794,004/US$541,827), Sha Tin, 10-20, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:32.82, gd/fm.
1–RISE HIGH (FR), 119, g, 5, by Myboycharlie (Ire)
1st Dam: Lana Girl, by Arch
2nd Dam: Volga (Ire), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Verveine, by Lear Fan
(€42,000 Ylg ’15 ARQAUG). O-Au-dela Syndicate; B-Mme Marie-Claude Biaudis; T-Caspar Fownes; J-Vincent Ho; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, G1SP-HK, 19-8-2-1, HK$14,414,125. *Formerly Landfall (Fr). Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Waikuku (Ire), 115, g, 4, Harbour Watch (Ire)–London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€33,000 Ylg ’16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Tung; B-Riversfield Stud; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$935,000.
3–Beauty Generation (NZ), 133, g, 7, Road to Rock (Aus)–Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus). (NZ$60,000 Ylg ’14 NZBJAN). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; J-Zac Purton; HK$488,750.
Margins: NK, 2, NK. Odds: 16-1, 11-2, 3-10.
Also Ran: Ka Ying Star (GB), Southern Legend (Aus), Eagle Way (Aus), Insayshable (Ire), Nothingilikemore (Aus), Glorious Forever (GB), Simply Brilliant (GB), Singapore Sling (SAf).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
PREMIER BOWL H.-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£423,456/€487,482/A$794,004/US$541,827), Sha Tin, 10-20, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.83, gd/fm.
1–SEASONS BLOOM (AUS), 125, g, 7, by Captain Sonador (Aus)
1st Dam: Pyramisa’s Lass (Aus), by Not A Single Doubt (Aus)
2nd Dam: Pyramisa (Aus), by Marauding (NZ)
3rd Dam: Royal Aria (NZ), by Palace Music
(A$26,000 Wlg ’13 MGLMAY). O-Paul Lo Chung Wai & Kathy Lo Ho Hsiu Lan; B-B M Nolan (Qld); T-Danny Shum; J-Grant van Niekerk; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: G1SW-HK, 29-8-4-2, HK$25,362,245. *Formerly Le Capitaine (Aus). Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Full of Beauty (Aus), 120, g, 5, Darci Brahma (NZ)–Pennacchio (NZ), by Align (Aus). (A$120,000 Ylg ’16 INGFEB). O-Beauty Family Syndicate; B-Nearco Stud Ltd (NSW); T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$935,000.
3–Wishful Thinker (Aus), 127, g, 6, I Am Invincible (Aus)–Zebithea (Aus), by Barathea (Ire). (A$80,000 Ylg ’15 MMMAR; A$120,000 RNA 2yo ’15 INGRTR). O-Ideal Brilliance Syndicate; B-J Davies (Qld); T-Richard Gibson; J-Vincent Ho; HK$488,750.
Margins: SHD, SHD, NK. Odds: 73-10, 13-10, 14-1.
Also Ran: Rattan (NZ), Pakistan Star (Ger), Good Standing (Aus), Gunnison (Aus), Ivictory (Aus).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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