Everest-winning son of Not A Single Doubt trials over 800 metres at Conghua

The Casper Fownes-trained Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) has taken a small, but significant, step towards a return to racing, with a soft trial win at Conghua on Monday. 

Pitted against three other rivals, the world’s equal top-rated sprinter cruised over the 800 metres journey to win the trial after sitting at the tail of the small field.

All being well, trainer Caspar Fownes could aim Classique Legend at the Sprint Cup (Gr 2, 1200m) at Sha Tin on April 5.

Winner of The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October, Classique Legend finished 11th in his Hong Kong debut in December’s Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) and was found to be lame post-race, prompting stewards to rule the gelding’s performance unacceptable and ordering the him to perform to the satisfaction of stewards in a barrier trial and to pass a veterinary examination.

Fownes is confident the five-year-old is now on target for an April race-track return.

“He went good,” Fownes said. “I just wanted him to have a very easy trial.

“He jumped well but I told the boy to get him back, relaxed and switched off – he trialled pretty good.

“He wasn’t there to be winning or anything but he still won it – he was just there to be going around easy.”

Fownes said the son of Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) would trial again before resuming.

“He’ll be trialling again in a couple of weeks,” Fownes said. “The plan is to run him in early April if everything is going smoothly.

“He’s passed his vet exam and his official trial, so he’s got no more restrictions on him.

“The plan is to take him forward to another trial because today’s trial was only over 800 metres, to have another little stretch, keep him happy and build him back up again.”

Classique Legend was rated equal third in the 2020 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with a mark of 125. Only Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) (130) and Authentic (Into Mischief) (126) achieved a higher figure.