HKJC
What do Hong Kong Horses of the Year Sacred Kingdom (Encosta De Lago), Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins) and current star Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock) have in common?
Sacred Kingdom, Champion Hong Kong Sprinter for four successive seasons achieved the title in 2010 followed immediately by Ambitious Dragon’s back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.
Beauty Generation’s second consecutive Hong Kong Horse of the Year title was very likely wrapped up mid-way through the season but heavily confirmed with his facile victory (trainer John Moore’s words) in Sunday’s Champions Mile (Gr.1, 1600m).
The 6YO is relentless when in front. His bold running style destroys his opponents. He is exciting to watch and runs brilliant times, as evidenced by a slashing 1:32.64 in the Jockey Club Mile (Gr.2, 1600m) last November. At the beginning of this season he took just 1:20.62 for the 1400m Celebration Cup (Gr.3).
His career earnings ($HK84,770,000) now surpass those of Viva Pataca (Marju) plus his eight wins (all Group races) in the season is the most by any previous runner including four at Group 1 level.
Bred in New Zealand by Nearco Stud, he had seven starts in Australia racing under the name of Montaigne, winning twice in Sydney and running second to Tarzino (Tavistock) in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1, 2000m).
Interestingly, Tarzino was mated with his dam Stylish Bel (Bel Espirit) in 2017.
In Hong Kong Beauty Generation’s three seasons and 23 starts have yielded 15 wins including seven Group 1s.
The answer to the question is: five of the last ten Hong Kong Horses of the Year trace to New Zealand Hall of Fame Broodmare and breed-shaper Eulogy (Cicero).
Eulogy was imported to New Zealand a little more than 100 years ago in foal to Coriander (Spearmint). The resultant foal, Pennon, was the first of 14 foals, 13 of which were winners including six stakes winners. Residing at G M Currie’s Koatanui Stud near Wanganui, Eulogy began a legacy that is still going strong a century later.
Bonecrusher (Pag Asa) and his great rival Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince) are direct descendants. So too was the outstanding New Zealand stayer Il Tempo (Time And Again) plus “The Black Flash”, Zephyr Bay (Biscay), not forgetting the two great mares Show Gate (Gate Keeper) and Lowland (Agricola).
Since the turn of the century Eulogy has been represented by Dundeel (High Chaparral), Starspangledbanner (Choisir), Elvstroem (Danehill), Private Steer (Danehill Dancer), Singapore champion Stepitup (Hussonet), Gingernuts (Iffraaj) and international traveller Highland Reel (Galileo).
Some 600 plus stakes winners descend from the great matriarch and more than 100 of those in Group 1 (or historical eqivalent) races.
Whereas both Sacred Kingdom and Ambitious Dragon trace to Eulogy via the Pennon branch, Beauty Generation is from the Homage (Absurd) branch, Eulogy being his tenth dam.
His dam, Stylish Bel is an unraced half-sister to two Listed stakes winners and prior to Beauty Generation the best performers from this branch are Lowland, Private Steer, Landsighting (Greig), Burletta (Three Legs), Bridie (Beau le Havre) and Mannix (Gigantic). Homage herself was also an outstanding producer of six stakes winners.
She foaled a colt to Tarzino in 2018 before being exported to Australia. Her 2016 filly by Tavistock was passed in at this year’s Karaka Book 1 sale while her 2015 colt, Drops Of Jupiter (Echoes Of Heaven) is currently in training and has been placed in trials. – by Lloyd Jackson