WHO IS THE BETTER HORSE? BEAUTY GENERATION OR ABLE FRIEND? I AGREE WITH JOHN MOORE'S VERDICT

By Darren Winningham | Monday, December 10, 2018

Beauty Generation or Able Friend?

After watching the demolition of a quality field in the Longines Hong Kong Mile by Beauty Generation the media room was a buzz with the question – ‘Who is the better horse? Able Friend or Beauty Generation?’

The question is a tough question demanding serious consideration for those who have seen them both run and win, and I have been fortunate enough to be present when they both have pulled out dominating performance and had the Hong Kong crowds stand and cheer in unison – a quite eerie experience.

Able Friend was dominant winning the 2014 Mile, one of four Group One victories on his way to being named the 2014-15 Horse of the Year, while that was the fourth Group One win for last season’s Horse of the Year Beauty Generation.

Both horses have a unique running style.

Able Friend liked to stalk his prey and come with a storming run late to win his races always under the guidance of Joao “The Magic Man” Moreira.

In 2014 he was drawn wide. Moreira, the master of tactics, took his mount back to second last which left some in the crowd a bit concerned . He was out the back – the leaders were setting a reasonable pace in front.

Was this mission going to be too difficult for the local Hong Kong superstar?

As they entered the straight Moreira made his move balancing Able Friend up for his assaultt. He came through the field as if time stood still and suddenly the contest was over in the blink of an eye.

The famous black silks with the gold trims on Able Friend zoomed to the lead and stormed away to win by four-and-a-quarter lengths.

Beauty Generation likes to race on the speed and dominate his opposition under the urgings of Australian Zac Purton.

On Sunday Beauty Generation was drawn wide - but edged his way up to the front. The first two sectionals were very strong. He took a bit of a breather maybe in the third sectional and then blew them away in the last sectional.

But was this the way Purton really wanted to run the race? Was this Plan B or was it he was super confident of the horse that he had underneath him?

I was in the crowd of 96,388 when Zac urged Beauty Generation forward and as he entered the straight the crowd was still silent.

Nobody was sure how much the gelding had left in the tank. Then, around the 250-metre mark, Purton asked Beauty Generation to kick and, after a few cracks of the whip, Beauty Generation found another gear and accelerated forward to put four lengths on them at a twinkling of an eye.

The race was over – the crowd cheered, stood as one and clapped and yelled “Beauty Generation” their champion had won the race by three lengths. To be fair I think he could have won by six – but such is the horsemanship from Purton to ensure his mount only did what was necessary.

When I review the performances of these two runners it is problematic to attempt to line them up.

The only consistent factor is they both won the Hong Kong Mile in such sensational fashion. Both have been granted champion statue by the Hong Kong Jockey Club with respective wins as Horse of the Year.

I suppose I should default the final say to the one consistent factor in their racing careers – their trainer – Mr John Moore.

After watching Beauty Generation winning on Sunday, he said, “that is the most impressive winner I’ve had in Hong Kong – by far”.

There is your answer Beauty Generation is the best – I must concur!

Those striking racing colour of black silks with white dots, pink arm bands and pink cap and the distinctive matching pink blinkers will probably be seen dominating Hong Kong racing again early in 2019 with the horse going for a well-deserved spell now.

John Moore has big plans in 2019 aiming to win the Steward’s Cup in late January and then see where the next journey takes him and his stable superstar.

More articles