Last start Hong Kong Gold Cup winner Golden Sixty likely to drop back to 1600 metres
The Caspar Fownes-trained Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) has taken another significant step towards a competitive return with a blistering 1000 metres trial victory at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.
Classique Legend powered up the 1000 metres straight course under Zac Purton in 57.90 seconds to beat Quadruple Double (Zoustar) by three and a quarter lengths.
The Francis Lui-trained Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), who clocked 58.75 seconds, was unpressured to finish sixth, five and a quarter lengths behind The Everest (1200m) winner.
Fownes intends to use the Sprint Cup (Gr 2, 1200m) at Sha Tin on 5 April as the 2021 starting point for Classique Legend, who has been sidelined since finishing 11th in the Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) on December 13.
“Very pleasing trial, it was what I expected he would be doing, leading into it,” Fownes said, who is ultimately plotting a path towards the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr 1, 1200m) at Sha Tin on 25 April with Classique Legend.
“He’s had a much more normal preparation now and he’s going the right way heading to the Group 1 at the end of next month and obviously the lead-up race three weeks earlier.
“There’s a lot of things that have been going on with the horse. It’s been hard work for me and the team, so hopefully now we can just go forward and get the best out of him.
“He’s in a good space, his mind is happy. Zac was happy with the trial, Zac was actually surprised the horse showed that much gate speed, he normally seems to be more of a get-back horse who charges home.
“I was happy with the trial – he’s looking good.”
Meanwhile, Francis Lui indicated the Champions Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) on April 25 was Golden Sixty’s likely next objective.
“We are still thinking about it, but maybe the Champions Mile at this stage, we are leaning that way at the moment.
“I discussed it with Vincent (Ho) and he thinks he is more comfortable there – his turn of foot is better at the mile we think.”
