Caspar Fownes is optimistic stablemates Southern Legend and Columbus County can continue an upward trajectory towards LONGINES Hong Kong International Races when the pair contests the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 November).
Multiple G1 winner Southern Legend (133lb) heads the handicap for HK$3.7 million feature under Vincent Ho against seven rivals, including Joao Moreira’s mount Columbus County (121lb) and Danny Shum’s Butterfield – who both hold HKIR entries on 12 December at Sha Tin.
Mindful the ultimate targets for both Southern Legend and Columbus County are still six weeks away, Fownes is quietly confident the duo will perform well.
“Columbus County, I think he’s going to run a big race, he ran enormous last start when he was fourth to Panfield over a mile,” Fownes said. “He sort of let the winner out at the wrong time. If we had held our spot, he could have gone quite close to winning.
“That was a mile, first-up. Now, it’s 1800 metres – these trips are still not his cup of tea but he’s a horse that’s well and under the handicap conditions, he gets his chance.”