Trainer John Moore says Beauty Generation must come out on top at Sha Tin on Sunday to make Horse of the Year history.
Beauty Generation has been crowned Horse of the Year in Hong Kong the last two years and he is in the mix to win the award for a third straight year, which would make him the first horse to achieve this feat.
The seven-year-old, owned by Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen, would join River Verdon and Silver Linings as the only horses to win the prestigious prize three times, although the last two mentioned did not do it in successive seasons.
Golden Sixty, who is unbeaten in seven starts this campaign, and Exultant are two of the candidates in contention for the award this year, but victory in Hong Kong on Sunday for Moore's charge could tip the balance.
Beauty Generation is expected to put in a strong challenge for honours in the FWD Champions Mile, and Moore admits nothing less than a win will do if history is to be made.
“If Beauty Generation doesn't win the Champions Mile, I'd think it might swing Golden Sixty's way,” he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “I think he's in with a serious chance of winning the Champions Mile and getting Horse of the Year for a third time.
“He's the old boy on the block so when it's a tight call he just might get the vote because, allied to his achievements, he's a public favourite and there's that admiration for him.”
