A minor setback delayed Glittering Legend launching his Hong Kong career but David Eustace hopes the British import can lay down a Classic Series marker at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Hong Kong owner Boniface Ho Ka-kui transferred Glittering Legend to Eustace with the coming four-year-old series in mind after his four wins from seven starts for British handler James Fanshawe.
The son of Too Darn Hot notched all victories at a mile, striking on turf at Goodwood and Doncaster as a two-year-old before completing a hat-trick with all-weather triumphs at Kempton and Newcastle.
The latter was in a Listed feature and he finished his British stint with a solid third behind Trinity College in the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes (1,993m) – a noted source of Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) candidates – at Royal Ascot.
“He had a slight setback immediately out of quarantine – nothing major, but Bon’s very patient and has got plenty of experience with racing European horses in Hong Kong,” Eustace said.
“We would have loved to have got him to the races three or four weeks earlier, if not more, but he’s had a smooth three months since then and his trials have been good.”
Glittering Legend runs in the Class Three Fencing Handicap (1,400m) off a mark of 78 and Eustace was buoyed by his perfect draw in gate two.
“He’s got a good draw which of course is important for every horse, but I think just for him at his first start here, just getting him to drop his head and relax is the key,” Eustace said of Glittering Legend, who will be ridden by champion jockey Zac Purton.
“He’s going to be able to do that from two, so I was particularly pleased with that draw. I’m hopeful but you can never be overconfident with European horses going to a new racing jurisdiction and running well in their first few races.
“You see it time and time again here, or when we had them in Australia, they often took time. We’ve had a bit of fortune this season with some new European horses so hopefully he can hit the ground running.”
Eustace wants to see a strong performance on Sunday ahead of the first leg of the four-year-old series, the Classic Mile on February 1.
“He’ll be entered for the race provided he runs well on Sunday and comes through it OK,” said Eustace. “He’d have to really stake his claim for the Classic Mile on Sunday, but we’re working back from the Derby.”
There are seven other four-year-olds lining up in Sunday’s Fencing Handicap, with all but the 79-rated Juneau Pride needing a win to boost their rating to figure in Classic Mile calculations.
The Class Three Tennis Handicap (1,600m) features a full field of 14 four-year-olds headlined by Patch Of Cosmo, a four-time winner last season who will make his return from a tendon injury.
Eustace, who has been frustrated by a recent streak of second placings, will run Loch Tay in the Tennis Handicap while the consistent Riding Together and Kyrus Fortune are his other Sha Tin runners.
“I’m leading the championship for seconds. Obviously it’s frustrating, but the horses are running well and you’ve just got to remain patient,” Eustace said of his 22 seconds – equal most this term with David Hayes.
“You could make a case for all four of my runners, but I’ll be most looking forward to Glittering Legend and Riding Together who have both drawn well.”
