Pakistan Star To Face Old Rival Beauty Generation In Gr.1 Stewards Cup
Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year Pakistan Star’s will be taking on Hong Kong’s current leading light, Beauty Generation’s in Sunday’s (20 January) Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup.
Depending on his performance, Dubai may be next stop on the career horizon of the brilliant colt. His handler, Tony Cruz is not underestimating or downplaying the brilliance of Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year, though. His contender was, after all, one of 13 horses on the receiving end of a Beauty Generation thrashing over the course and distance back in October.
But of the six runners in the Stewards’ Cup field, Cruz believes owner Kerm Din’s two-time Gr.1 winner is the one that possesses that touch of brilliance needed to trouble the horse rated the world’s best specialist turf miler.
Cruz is mulling a different strategy for this race: “This horse is always best when he comes from behind so we need to ride him quietly.”
The man tasked with delivering the Shamardal gelding’s famous kick is Silvestre de Sousa, back aboard for the fifth time but the first since a fine second in the 2017 Gr.1 QEII Cup.
“Pakistan Star was never straightforward when I rode him in the past,” the Brazilian said of the infamously complicated galloper. “But he’s changed a lot so now he travels handy and can quicken. A lot will depend on how he jumps out of the gate – I do think a small field will be more suitable for him.”
Sunday’s Stewards Cup is part of a Group 1 double-header along with the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), which sees Hong Kong’s big three speedsters, Mr Stunning, D B Pin and Beat The Clock clash again.
Credit: HKJC