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After winning the Everest, Classique Legend is being set for an international campaign which could include races in Dubai, Japan and England.
Everest champion Classique Legend is set to leave the Randwick stables of his trainer Les Bridge within days of his all-conquering win in Australia's richest race to begin preparations for an ambitious international campaign.
Classique Legend will enter quarantine as soon as Monday in preparation for a departure to Hong Kong from where he will be prepared for a program that could include races in Dubai, Japan and England.
The horse's Hong Kong-based owner Boniface Ho said Classique Legend will travel to Melbourne to begin his quarantine as soon as arrangements could be made.
Classique Legend will then be shipped to Hong Kong to join the stable of Caspar Fownes, who will prepare him for his next start at December's rich international race meeting.
"The plan was for the horse to go into quarantine starting tomorrow," Ho said.
Speaking on Sky television from Hong Kong, he added that the process could be delayed to allow Classique Legend to recover from a victory that is bound to earn him the official title of the world's best sprinter.
"What I hear this morning is that the horse is a bit tired and might not be suitable to travel," Ho said.
He said the plan was for Classique Legend to spend three weeks at a private quarantine facility in Victoria before continuing his preparation for the Hong Kong Jockey Club's international meeting in December.
Ho explained that removing his horse from Australia would allow him to mount the planned international campaign.
"If I don't send the horse to Hong Kong now, he will never be able to go," he said.
"The rules of the Hong Kong Jockey Club are that horses over four years old cannot be imported."
An exception has been made for the five-year-old Classique Legend because of the disruption to international travel caused by COVID-19.
"From HK he can tackle other overseas races, in addition I can support him all the time," his owner said.
"From what I see, the horse will have a better future racing in different jurisdictions if he was racing in Hong Kong.
"He would be able to tackle the best sprinters all over the world .... and shine all over the world.
"If he stayed in Australia this would be impossible for me to arrange and organise."
