Alexis Badel believes Gentlemen Legacy is a classy stayer whose consistency over course and distance suggests he is capable of more than simply making up the numbers in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on Sunday (24 May).
While the Tony Cruz-trained five-year-old will make his debut at Group 1 level in the Sha Tin feature, Badel says there are enough positives in Gentlemen Legacy’s profile to suggest he can be competitive.
The son of Showtime enters Sunday’s race following a strong second in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) earlier this month.
“I think he is a staying type first, which is important,” Badel said. “So, he’s got the stamina, that’s good. And I think he’s always shown that he has ability and a touch of class. So it wasn’t a surprise for me that he ran good in that race.”
There are question marks about the ability of some in the field to get the mile and a half trip, while Gentlemen Legacy was still finding in the last 50 metres of the Queen Mother Memorial Cup, having raced on pace throughout the contest in testing conditions.
It would require a career-best showing for the Australian-bred galloper to lower the colours of 14-time Group 1-winning Romantic Warrior. The eight-year-old is seeking to complete Hong Kong’s Triple Crown following triumphs in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) already this season.
Gentlemen Legacy has finished outside the top four only twice in 24 outings, including 10 starts in Australia for trainer Paul Cumming, and has produced a string of consistent performances in the second half of the season after adapting well to life in Hong Kong.
“He’s been performing well over course and distance, so his form is good,” Badel said. “He’s mature and has adapted to Hong Kong very well, so that will be an asset for him.”
The French rider also dismissed concerns about tactical vulnerability after drawing gate seven.
“He doesn’t have a great gate, but I think he’s versatile anyway, so I’ve got plenty of time.
“I think he should run a good race, and we’ll see where we end up.”
Sunday’s (24 May) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.30pm with the Class 5 Standard Chartered Digital Assets Handicap (1600m).