International racing always takes centre stage at this time of year and, with last week’s Arc meeting still fresh in the mind, it’s been interesting to hear of various developments on the global front this week.
The Australian superstar Winx remains top of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings on a rating of 130 after her 21st G1 success at Flemington last Saturday and local fans can see her in action again when she bids to land a historic fourth consecutive Cox Plate, which I am glad to say will be part of our Simulcast programme on 27 October.
However, when the latest rankings were published it was also great to see Beauty Generation’s impressive recent Celebration Cup success recognised by the handicappers with an exceptional international rating of 123.
John Moore’s gelding was a worthy winner of Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year award last season and his amazing progress in the last 12 months means he is now firmly established as one of the very best milers in the world.
He is clearly on target to defend his LONGINES Hong Kong Mile Crown on 9 December but, before then, there is also another very important date in Beauty Generation’s diary at Sha Tin next Sunday.
This time last year Beauty Generation was carrying just 118lb when he won the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy under Derek Leung, but his relentless progress since means that he will have to carry top weight against some very dangerous rivals under Zac Purton this time around.
Pakistan Star and Time Warp both trialled powerfully in preparation for the Sha Tin Trophy on Friday morning and all the signs suggest this will be the race of the season so far.
I believe John now feels that Beauty Generation could even emulate Able Friend by becoming the world’s highest rated miler before the end of the year.
Who knows, if he can beat such high class rivals when conceding them 5lbs next Sunday then that belief may well be a realistic one.
Before next week’s ‘Bow Tie Day’ we have ten races tomorrow at Sha Tin. The Class 3 Yan Chai Trophy is the seventh race at 1200m on the dirt with Encore Boy and Harbour Alert expected to go forward from their outside gates to establish the running. Super Man will also be handy to ensure a good pace.
This is a very competitive race with many chances but Super Man is my win and place chance as he is second up off an extended break and turned in a promising effort in his return three weeks ago. He is bred for the dirt and is a three-time winner over the track and distance.
Raging Blitzkrieg is also proven in this class, track and distance, and is the likely favourite. He is training well for his second run of the season and is a solid place chance from his good draw.
Last start winner Go Public comes into the race in top form and will be closing ground along with Nuclear Power. Both are place chances.
Comment
