Another top challenger taking aim at Beauty Generation for a fourth time this term is Southern Legend in the upcoming Gr.1 Stewards Cup.
Trainer Caspar Fownes has also planned a change in strategy (not unlike Pakistan Star's conditioner Cruz), faced as he is with an outstanding champion for a rival.
“I’m going to tweak Southern Legend’s equipment this weekend,” Fownes said. “I’m going to put him in a pair of blinkers, just to see. It’s a small field six runners so we’ll see if we can get him right up on the speed and see what happens.
“If he doesn’t, if he comes out a bit tardy, we’ll ride him where he is. He’s versatile; he’s performed up on the speed, middle, and back, so the options are there.”
The gelding has previously worn a visor.
His chief opponent, Beauty Generation, is unbeaten thus far in his four races this term. In the two biggest, the Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile and Gr.2 Jockey Club Mile, Southern Legend was the best of Hong Kong’s rest, albeit three lengths and more behind.
Last time out, though, in the 1800m Gr.3 January Cup Handicap at Happy Valley, Southern Legend was only sixth of 10 behind the low-weighted Simply Brilliant. Fownes is not discouraged by that defeat in a race free of Beauty Generation’s imposing presence.
Southern Legend’s efforts in chasing home Beauty Generation also include a third-placed run in last season’s Gr.1 Champions Mile. That preceded an overseas victory in the SIN Gr.1 Kranji Mile in Singapore and Fownes is set firm in a plan to take the six-year-old on his travels again, this time to Dubai.
Credit: HKJC