Hong Kong champion Beauty Generation is set to retire to Living Legends after running his last race on Saturday.

Hong Kong’s highest-rated galloper of all time – rated the equal of another great miler, Able Friend – bowed out with a meritorious fifth place behind Golden Sixty in the Hong Kong Mile.

He retires with a career tally of 18 wins from 34 starts, as well as the local all-time record prize money haul of HK$106,233,750.

At his peak, Beauty Generation was an incredible force around Sha Tin, claiming two editions of the Hong Kong Mile among his eight G1 wins for trainer John Moore – his last three races came under the care of trainer David Hayes.

He won eight Group 1s in total and was crowned Hong Kong’s horse of the year twice.

“I knew it may be on the table,” said Zac Purton, who rode the Kwok family’s champion 28 times.

“It’s a bitter-sweet day. It’s a sad end. He’s been the best horse for me in my career. I’m certainly going to miss him. He was brave again today and wherever he may go in the world, I’m sure I’ll go and visit him in his paddock one day.”

Beauty Generation was high-class in Australia before scaling Hong Kong’s heights but never ventured away from Sha Tin to test his mettle as a champion overseas.

Fellow Hong Kong champion Beat The Clock (pictured) is also set to call Living Legends home from 2021.

Racing.com