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.
Classique Legend draws inside for Hong Kong International Sprint Classique Legend wins The Everest. Source: Getty Images.
The barrier draw has been conducted for the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) which will be run on Sunday at Sha Tin.
This year’s The Everest winner was the last horse of the 14 runners to draw a barrier and the Casper Fownes-trained sprinter will start from barrier one in the $HK 22 million sprint feature.
Classique Legend is the $2 favourite to win his first start outside Australia, ahead of the John Size-trained Hot King Prawn, a $4 chance which will start from barrier 5.