Purton and Moore star at Hong Kong International Races
Issued on: 2 min
Hong Kong (AFP)
British jockey Ryan Moore was the star of the show at the Hong Kong International Races on Sunday, winning two of the four Group One contests.
It was a day of international dominance at the Shatin race course, with only the victory of Hong Kong s best horse Golden Sixty preventing the raiders from landing a clean sweep on the city s biggest day of racing.
After opening proceedings with a commanding victory riding Aidan O Brien-trained Mogul in the Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), Moore snared the Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) aboard Japanese outsider Danon Smash.
Trainer reveals reason for Legend’s HK flop Danon Smash (red and white) under Ryan Moore wins the Hong Kong Sprint International at Sha Tin. Picture: AFP
Mitch Cohen and Ray Thomas
6:55PM13 December 2020
The forgettable performance of ex-Aussie star Classique Legend in the Hong Kong International Sprint on Sunday was labelled as ‘unacceptable’ by stewards who demanded answers for his Sha Tin failure on Sunday.
Those answers came later with trainer Caspar Fownes reporting to stewards on Monday that the big grey had been examined at his stables and was found to be lame in his off foreleg.
Classique Legend was a long way from his best on his Hong Kong debut after the 2020 The Everest winner struggled to make any impact in his first run for Caspar Fownes.