While Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock) clearly remains the poster boy for racing in Hong Kong as he eyes HK$100 million in career earnings, there are any number of young gallopers gearing up for their 4-year-old (and in one case, 3-year-old) season that achieved exceptionally high ratings in 2018-2019, winning a combined 31 of 52 starts.

The majority commenced their careers in Hong Kong, while a pair of runners listed below performed with credit overseas prior to their import into Hong Kong. Two of those mentioned kick off their campaigns in Sunday’s featured Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup H. (1200m).

Champion's Way (Rating: 108)

Hinchinbrook–Greta’s Yarn, by Redoute’s Choice

2018-2019 Record: 7-6-1-0, HK$7,165,000

Favored at each of his seven runs last term, including five at odds-on. Champion’s Way won his first five starts, including his first try over 1400 metre in his Class 2 debut in April before tasting defeat for the first time when the 132-pound highweight over 1600 metre the following month.

The $1.80 choice for the G3 Lion Rock Trophy H. June 8, the $150,000 Inglis Melbourne Premiere Yearling was admittedly was well off at the weights, but gave Classic series veteran Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) a half-length beating (video). The late Rapper Dragon (Street Boss {USA}) won the inaugural running of the Lion Rock in 2016 before becoming the first to sweep the 4YO classics the next year and the 4YO Series is the goal for Champion’s Way.

Regency Legend (NZ) (Rating: 103)

Pins–Sparkling (NZ), by O’Reilly (NZ)

2018-2019 Record: 3-3-0-0, HK$3,859,600

A two-time winner and runner-up in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. at Trentham while trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Regency Legend made his Hong Kong debut on International Day last year, exactly 12 months removed from his final New Zealand start, and caused a $15 upset in a 1200-metre Class 3 (video). The Waikato Stud-bred gelding, a NZ$150,000 Karaka Yearling grad, added a pair of wins in Class 2 and resumes in the aforementioned Class 1 Sunday, with leading rider Zac Purton at the controls.

Country Star (Rating: 100)

Starcraft (NZ)–Moonrush, by Encosta de Lago

2018-2019 Record: 10-5-2-0, HK$6,596,900

John Size-trainee Country Star made nine of his 10 appearances last season at the city circuit at Happy Valley, winning five times while favoured at less than $2. His lone run at Sha Tin came on New Year’s Day, when he finished clear of all his competition bar Regency Legend as the $6.60 second choice. Having bled bilaterally following his season-ending run June 26, the $90,000 Inglis Melbourne Premiere yearling spent his downtime at and currently remains stabled at the HKJC’s Conghua Training Centre.

Styling City (Rating: 97)

Starspangledbanner–Secret Liaison, by Artie Schiller (USA)

2018-2019 Record: 10-3-1-3, HK$4,327,600

Styling City, purchased by George Moore Bloodstock for $300,000 out of the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, won three of his first four starts last season, overcoming a world of trouble to post an improbable success in his Class 2 debut over the straight five-furlong course December 23. Backed up on just two weeks’ rest, the chestnut was beaten 1.25 lengths into second in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy H. Joao Moreira has the call on the 113-pound bottom-weight from barrier two in Sunday’s HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup.

Yee Cheong Baby (Rating: 97)

Sebring–Dama de Noche, by Snippets

2018-2019 Record: 2-2-0-0, HK$2,748,100.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and raced in Australia by China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and WinStar Farm et. al. as Neutrality, this $400,000 Inglis Easter Yearling purchase debuted victoriously at Rosehill in November 2017 and was second to Graff (Star Witness) in last year’s G3 San Domenico S. at the same track. The chestnut was the on-pace winner of two starts at Happy Valley last term and recently led throughout to take an August 27 all-weather trial through driving morning rain.

Thanks Forever (Rating: 92)

Duporth–Cinecitta, by Exceed And Excel

2018-2019 Record: 4-2-0-0, HK$1,573,200

A debut winner in June 2018, Thanks Forever had his 2018-2019 season delayed by a bleeding incident in December, but made up for lost time with facile successes in a pair of Class 3s going 1000 metres in May and June, respectively. Thanks Forever was a $170,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast purchase by George Moore.

Tornado Twist (Rating: 92)

Denman–More Glory, by More Than Ready (USA)

2018-2019 Record: 9-4-2-2, HK$5,329,950

Tornado Twist, a $105,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling, belied big odds to be a first-out third last November before rattling off three straight at Sha Tin, including a 1.25 length tally in the middle of Class 3 in February. Out of the top three just once in his career, the brown gelding was a generous $8.80 on the tote when taking out a 1200m C2 at Happy Valley when last seen July 10.

Voyage Warrior (Rating: 92)

Declaration of War (USA)–Chaleur (NZ), by Stravinsky (USA)

2018-2019 Record: 4-3-0-1, $2,401,200

Trainer Ricky Yiu knows how to handle a top-class sprinter and he appears to have another very good one on his hands in the form of Voyage Warrior. A NZ$55,000 NZB Festival Sale yearling purchased turned NZ$280,000 2-year-old at that company’s November Ready-To-Run Sale, the chestnut gelding has gone out at $1.50 or less in his four starts, good for three wins up the 1000-metre straight.

Making his first appearance in Class 3 April 24, Voyage Warrior clocked a slick :54.89, easily a class record and within 0.19 of the overall course mark held by the Yiu-trained 2010 Horse of the Year and four-time champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago).

Aethero (Rating: 89)

Sebring–Pinocchio, by Encosta de Lago

2018-2019 Record: 3-3-0-0, HK$1,755,600

A single 3-year-old makes this list of horses to watch, the undefeated and untested Aethero. A $575,000 acquisition by George Moore, the chestnut, who is out of a full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Racing to Win (Encosta de Lago), manhandled griffin competition in his first two appearances, the second of those at a Winx-like $1.05.

He made equally light work of his lone start outside of restricted company from gate 14, taking a 1200-metre Class 3 by an untouched 1 3/4 lengths July 1. No 3-year-old has ever won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (Peniaphobia {Ire} was beaten a neck into second in 2014), but should all go according to script, he is likely to get that chance to make history this December.