UPDATED 3:59PM, APR 13 2021
This article is from our new weekly digital newsletter Asia Bloodstock News, published on Wednesday mornings (Asian time). Sign up for a free subscription here.
Neil Callan’s suspension saga took a twist on Monday when the rider lodged notice of an appeal against the severity of punishment handed down at last Wednesday’s show cause hearing, which was called after a lively stewards’ inquiry into careless riding at Happy Valley on February 3.
The Irish jockey received a lengthy suspension, in excess of three months, after presenting a defence that included support from several Hong Kong racing notables including two champion trainers and big-name owners.
Brazilian out to make waves in Hong Kong racing.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from racing.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Classique Legend ready to go for Hong Kong Sprint Classique Legend takes it in at Sha Tin. Source: HKJC
The Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) preparation - both flawed and challenging - is complete, but Caspar Fownes won’t know the success of the operation until Classique Legend shapes to unleash his scorching late sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Classique Legend arrived in Hong Kong on 11 November, presenting Fownes with a string of hurdles, not least horse health and form, before undergoing an unorthodox build-up to the HK$22 million sprint.
To face Japanese speedsters Danon Smash and Tower Of London over 1200m, as well as the best Hong Kong has to offer, the former Australian seems destined for a baptism of fire under Vincent Ho.