The Everest winner Classique Legend has started his Hong Kong racing career in disappointing fashion finishing at the rear of the field in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint on Sunday.
Formerly trained at Randwick by Les Bridge, Classique Legend emerged as one of Australia’s brightest stars when he won the Group Two The Shorts and $15 million The Everest during a lucrative spring.
His Hong Kong-based owner Bon Ho subsequently transferred him to trainer Caspar Fownes with the goal of campaigning him in the best sprint races around the world.
The latter has hit a bit of a hurdle after the horse ran near last on debut in Hong Kong and never looked comfortable at any stage of the race with Japanese sprinter Danon Smash winning the race.
The market however knew that it was not going to be a perfect start for Classique Legend in Hong Kong with the star Australian sprinter drifting from $1.80 out to $3.80 with Sportsbet.
