Sichuan Legend had done nothing worthwhile in two seasons of racing since arriving, but produced a much-improved performance when returning after a luckless effort in the Class Four Elizabeth Arden Handicap (1,600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The gelding was transferred back to the Michael Chang Chun-wai stable after some ordinary performance with Richard Gibson last season. He arrived in May 2010 off a mark of 85 for two wins as a three-year-old and three placings from 11 starts in New Zealand, but has come down 42 points since. He ended last season with two invisible Sha Tin performances at this level following a vet report in May that revealed a nerve block and degeneration of the left hind.
He was always at the rear in a Valley trial 24 days ago, but was given a solid blowout in an all-weather track trial 11 days back with the re-application of blinkers behind The Peak.
Sichuan Legend was well in the market at 10-1 on Sunday for jockey Howard Cheng Yu-tin at the bottom of the weights with the shadow roll coming off and the blinkers re-applied.
The five-year-old was in trouble right from the start when getting crowded by Happy Seven and Expectator, recovered to settle behind midfield and on the rails about seven lengths off the leaders, was once again hampered between All Bountiful and Expectator at the 200m, before getting re-balanced and staying on nicely to finish four lengths off the winner Surrounded.
Having come down sharply in the handicaps, Sichuan Legend will be a competitive runner this preparation.
He is a son of Tobougg, who was a Group winner and runner-up to Agnes Digital in the 2001 edition of the Hong Kong Cup and has produced one other local starter in Gem Of Chiu Ton - a mile winner at Class Two level and three-times placed from 16 starts. His dam, Casual Lies mare Chita Riviera, was a winner at 1,150m and half-sister to the Group winning sprinter/miler Natalie Wood. She's also related to the multiple sprint winner Master Rio.
