They changed the race, they changed the distance, but the result stayed the same. Hong Kong interests dominated Singapore’s return to international competition tonight (Saturday, 26 May) as Southern Legend streaked to a three-length win in the SG$1.5 million SG1 Kranji Mile (1600m) under Zac Purton.

The win gave trainer Caspar Fownes a fourth international feature success in the Lion City and Hong Kong a ninth overall. A brave effort from the Tony Millard-trained Horse Of Fortune ensured a quinella for Sha Tin raiders, taking Hong Kong’s placed-runner tally to 12 from 19 races dating back 18 years.

“Fantastic,” said Fownes, hand-clasping, hugging and back-slapping as well-wishers swarmed in. “I thought the horse was really well so you’ve just got to hope that things go smoothly. He broke well, he had nice sectionals and everything was good.”

Southern Legend burst smartly from his berth on the inside rail; a bit of arm-pumping from Purton ensured the five-year-old secured the lead, and from that point on, the G1 Champions Mile third was in control. After shrugging off challengers at the top of the straight, the Not A Single Doubt gelding sprinted clear to score in a time of 1m 33.79s.

“I didn’t really have a plan,” Purton said. “I wanted to be positive and just work it out. I didn’t think there’d be much speed in the race so I wanted to lead if I could.

“I was just a little bit worried mid-race – Karis Teetan on Horse Of Fortune kept kicking up in between myself and the horse that was three wide that kept trying to come across. But my horse wasn’t travelling too fiercely, I had him in a good rhythm and I knew, when I let him down at the 400 (metres), he’d be hard to beat.

“It’s great to win anywhere and Singapore’s been a special place to me. It’s good for Caspar’s stable to have another horse at this level.”

Three years after the discontinuation of the G1 SIA Cup (2000m) and G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m), the result was a reversion to how things had been pre-hiatus. Nova Strike in third was the first Singapore-trained runner home, four lengths behind the winner.

Fownes won the KrisFlyer three times, with Green Birdie (2010) and Lucky Nine (2013 and 2014), and Southern Legend went into this race as the stable’s first potential star since Lucky Nine’s retirement.

“He’s up there with the big boys now,” the trainer said, before confirming that Southern Legend will now enjoy a summer break. “History tells you that these horses come out and improve that little bit more the next season.

“He’s versatile, he handles any going, he goes in both directions – we saw that there – and he’s a horse that can travel. He’s enjoyed himself this week, he’s just been chilled – a real dude. It’s a big help when the horses work with you.”

Horse Of Fortune fought on valiantly to claim second after being squeezed and bumped early in the straight.

“Great run,” said Millard, for whom the seven-year-old was a first runner in Singapore. “He’s a not a young horse and he just ran a big race today. He was a little bit squeezed at the top of the straight, he lost his momentum and was just grinding at the finish, and Zac had sprinted away by then.

“He’s my third best horse and he’s run a little above his form today so I couldn’t be more pleased. It’s a great experience to come here and maybe next year I can bring one of my top liners.”

Purton made his way to the airport having collected two of the night’s three features. Hong Kong’s former champion jockey enjoyed a smooth success atop the Lee Freedman-trained Mr Clint in the SG1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) one race prior.

“I didn’t know the form that well, but, judging by the tote board, they thought he had a good chance,” he said after the three-year-old had scored by a length. “He was pulling me into the straight; he was just too good for them. He felt like the winner a long way out.”

Teetan snared a double on the undercard, taking the day’s opener on Big Wave and following up in race five on Hyde Park.

Cruiser’s Boss in the Lion City Cup

The first of the card’s three features went to Lim’s Cruiser under a cool Glen Boss. The five-year-old was Singapore’s champion sprinter last year after winning this contest and became the first horse since the great Rocket Man to go back-to-back.

Lim’s Cruiser had only one horse behind him with the home run approaching but engaged a gear beyond his rivals to surge through the pack and cut down the breakaway leader Zac Kasa.

“Brilliant! Glen Boss at his best – at his best he’s unbeatable and that was seen today,” said trainer Stephen Gray. The handler had brought the Casino Prince gelding to the party off only one run this year.

“We work for these moments. He’s a very good horse and to set him for this race and for it to come off is fantastic because it’s so hard to do,” Gray added.