Everest winner Classique Legend found to be lame in off foreleg after poor Hong Kong debut
It was a disaster from start to finish for Classique Legend in the Hong Kong International Sprint – but the reason for the poor showing has now been made clear.
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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.
The son of Not A Single Doubt was a substantial drifter in pre-race betting, losing favouritism ($2 to $3.80) to Hong Kong fan favourite Hot King Prawn ($2.10).
The drift came as seemingly punters lost faith in the talented five-year-old following a lacklustre trial in the lead up and an unsuitable inside gate on race day.
It proved to be the right decision when Classique Legend looked a shadow of himself in the Group 1 feature, which was claimed by Japanese sprinter Danon Smash under the urgings of Ryan Moore.
Classique Legend finished 6-1/2 lengths off the winner in 11th with stewards far from satisfied by the display.
“The performance of Classique Legend, a favoured runner in today’s race, was considered unacceptable,” the HKJC Stewards’ report read.
“Before being allowed to race again, Classique Legend will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.”
A post race veterinary examination did not show any significant findings.
However, it was clear Classique Legend was well off his game after he never looked likely in his maiden international run.
The former Les Bridge-trained galloper was slowly away, settling last before jockey Vincent Ho struggled to find clear running when the field entered the straight.
He copped a significant check when making contact with Jolly Banner and was out of contention from that point on.
Ho gave further explanation on the performance when he was brought before stewards post race.
“He (Ho) said after being awkwardly placed behind Jolly Banner near the 900m mark, Classique Legend then came off the bridle and did not travel comfortably for the remainder of the race,” the stewards’ report read.
“He added Classique Legend did not quicken when placed under pressure and then failed to finish off the race.”
HORROR RUN FOR EVEREST WINNER
The Everest winner Classique Legend endured a horror run and finished near last in the Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Japanese sprinter Danon Smash gave English jockey Ryan Moore his second Group 1 at the showcase Hong Kong meeting as Classique Legend beat only two rivals to the line.
It all went wrong for Classique Legend from the start. He was very slow to begin from barrier one, coming out nearly two lengths behind the field.
Classique Legend, under new jockey Vincent Ho then drove through to catch the backmarkers in the feature sprint but was on the rail inside runners and in a difficult position coming to the home turn.
Ho attempted to try and get Classique Legend away from the inside but was given little galloping room and had to ride for luck from the top of the straight.
Classique Legend, now trained in Hong Kong by Caspar Fownes, was then stopped in his tracks at a vital stage at the 300m and held up behind a wall of runners where he lost all momentum, eventually finishing near the rear of the field
It was a disappointing result for Classique Legend who had been so dominant winning the world’s richest turf race, The Everest, at Royal Randwick in October. The grey was the first winner of The Everest to compete on the international stage.
Ryan Moore makes it a Group 1 double, taking out the Hong Kong Sprint with Danon Smash! pic.twitter.com/4fvWq8STMw
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 13, 2020
Moore, who came off his Hong Kong International Vase win on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Mogul 40 minutes earlier, was at his brilliant best on Danon Smash who held off Jolly Banner and Rattan to win narrowly in a blanket finish.
“Danon Smash has some really good form at times in Japan but I must admit I thought the barrier would make it difficult for him,’’ Moore told Hong Kong media.
“But we got lucky, we got a lovely run around and he was very brave and fought all the way.’’
Danon Smash is sired by former Japanese sprinting superstar Lord Kanaloa, a dual winner of the Hong Kong International Sprint in 2012-13.
Originally published as Everest winner Classique Legend found to be lame in off foreleg after poor Hong Kong debut