If, as they should, the Hong Kong International Races next month exceed the preps for them Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, those are going to be some very appealing races. All three of the major races Sunday produced strong performances, but Beauty Generation still stood out. The highest-rated horse in Hong Kong won the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile by three lengths and set a course record of 1:32.64 for 1,600 meters despite drifting out through the entire homestretch run and crossing the line closer to the stands-side rail than the inside fence. A firm and fast-playing course plus a fast pace set up the record time, but taking everything into account, Beauty Generation’s performance remains extremely impressive. For starters, Beauty Generation himself often is part of the pace, but on Sunday, jockey Zac Purton eased his mount toward the back of an eight-horse field as The Golden Age, pressed by Pingwu Spark, went to the front. With half the Jockey Club Mile remaining, Purton let his mount roll up on the outside, and with an eye-catching middle move, Beauty Generation went from sixth to second. He hit the front with 400 meters left and steadily drew clear in a showing that will make him a solid choice to win the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile on Dec. 7. Southern Legend won a photo with Beauty Only to get second. Second choice Singapore Sling finished a one-paced fourth. Beauty Generation, a 6-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding by Road to Rock and out of Stylish Bel, is trained by John Moore, and Moore got a second stakes win Sunday with the resurgent Eagle Way, who won the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup by one length over Exultant. Eagle Way, a 6-year-old Aussie-bred gelding by More Than Ready and out of Wedgetail Eagle, showed plenty of promise two seasons ago as a 4-year-old but won only once in 10 starts last Hong Kong season. This year, he has steadily improved, and his one-run closing style found an ideal setup in Sunday’s race, which featured an extremely strong early and middle pace. Eagle Way and jockey Sylvestre de Sousa raced last around the first turn and down the backstretch in this 2,000-meter race, moved wide around the second turn to reach contention, and came down the center of the track to outfinish Exultant, another closer who split horses at the 300-meter mark to make a lead he couldn’t hold. Werther finished third, while all the horses on or near the lead – talented performers like Pakistan Star and Time Warp – were well beaten following their premature exertions. Eagle Way, like his stablemate Beauty Generation, set a course record, going 2,000 meters in 1:59.40. Moore must now decide whether to aim Eagle Way at the Hong Kong Vase over 2,400 meters, as he had originally intended, or go for the Hong Kong Cup over 2,000 meters. In the Jockey Club Sprint, jockey Joao Moreira renewed his partnership with trainer John Size, riding Hot King Prawn to a front-running half-length win over Mr. Stunning. Moreira is returning to Hong Kong following a stint in Japan and this past week was formally named the retained rider for the powerful Size stable. Size had five runners in the Jockey Club Sprint, and while three of his horses filled out the bottom placings, Hot King Prawn continued his winning ways, while Beat the Clock was an encouraging third. Hot King Prawn won his fourth straight race and now is 3 for 3 this Hong Kong season, though the five pounds he got from Mr. Stunning might have made the difference Sunday. The 4-year-old Hot King Prawn, an Aussie-bred by Denman and out of De Chorus, has won nine of 10 during his Hong Kong career and in three weeks will get his first Group 1 test in the Hong Kong Sprint on the International card. Hot King Prawn clocked 1:08.59 for 1,200 meters but might still have to step up his game to succeed at the highest level. :: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs