Beauty Generation pictured as a yearling at Highden Park
Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock) scored a tough win under Zac Purton in the Class 2 Violet Handicap (1600m) to cement his status as a leading contender for the upcoming Four-Year-Old Classic Series at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Beauty Generation (130lb) had impressed with his second to My Darling on debut on 27 December, and despite overracing early today, he managed to hold off lightweight California Disegno (117lb) and fellow classic contenders Western Express (118lb) and Winner’s Way (120lb) to score by a head.
Moore was excited after the win, believing that the son of Wellfield Lodge-based stallion Road To Rock was nowhere near his prime fitness-wise.
“Zac came back and said this run was very important heading to the Classic Mile,” said trainer John Moore. “He only went for so far and then he bottomed, and all he will do is keep improving from now on. And he gave Western Express 12 pounds so it was still full of merit considering that Western Express has had three runs now and he looks screwed down.
“I think it was just the class that showed late, and the signs are really positive heading towards the bigger races.”
Moore confirmed that Beauty Generation will head to the Hong Kong Classic Mile next on 22 January and that he is likely to be one of four runners for the stable, with Rodrico (125lb) another potential candidate despite finishing 12th at his Hong Kong debut today.
“Rodrico just got trapped deep and off the track and all that so I’d forgive that run,” he said. “He’s a lighter High Chaparral who we thought might run a little better but he did have no luck so he’s run his race.”
Beauty Generation was one of three winners for Purton, taking the Australian rider to 10 winners from the first three meetings in 2017. Earlier in the card, he steered Mr Potential (NZ) (Thorn Park) to victory in the Class 4 Iris Handicap (1400m) before getting a win out of Moore’s Ashkiyr in the Class 4 Heather Handicap (1800m).
Bred by Nearco Stud Limited, Beauty Generation is out of the Bel Esprit mare Stylish Bel. He was purchased by Hermes Syndications for $60,000 out of Highden Park’s 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale draft.
A half-brother to Beauty Generation by Echoes of Heaven will be offered at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling Sale as Lot 1068 – Andrew Hawkins, HKJC
