Sha Tin racegoers will have their eyes on a rising French contender this Sunday(14th December) as Beauvatier prepares to tackle the HK$36 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m). Trained by Yann Barberot, the four-year-old arrives as something of a dark horse but brimming with potential after an emphatic win in the G2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket last October.
Barberot believes the step up to a mile, the first in over a year for Beauvatier, could unlock a career-best performance. “He needs pace in a race, which means we’re forced to run him over shorter trips in Europe, especially France,” Barberot said after assessing the horse in a Thursday morning trackwork session. “At Newmarket over 1400 metres on a stiff track, he showed he could be interesting at 1600 metres, especially around a quick track like Sha Tin. This was always among my targets for the end of the season.”
The horse has shown consistent form at the top level, having finished third in multiple Group 1 contests, including the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Prix Jean Prat, Prix Maurice de Gheest, and Prix de la Foret. Beauvatier also notched a victory in the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis this campaign, hinting at his readiness to shine on Hong Kong soil. Barberot draws confidence from previous overseas success, noting how his horse Zagrey exceeded expectations in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in 2023 before breaking through at the top level later in the season.
Jockey Alexis Pouchin, who knows Beauvatier well and has prior experience in Hong Kong, will ride in Sunday’s feature. “Alexis is a young jockey but with a lot of talent, and he knows the horse very well, which is the most important thing,” Barberot said.
While respecting the competition, particularly Soul Rush and Embroidery, Barberot is confident in his horse’s condition. “The main thing is to come here with a horse in form. He took the journey over very well and is in very good physical shape. I was never worried about the travel because this horse has a great temperament,” he added.
Beauvatier drew gate six in Thursday’s barrier draw for the 14-horse LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. The 10-race card at Sha Tin kicks off at 12.25pm with the Class 4 Fairy King Prawn Handicap over 1400 metres, setting the stage for an exciting afternoon of top-tier racing.
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