Southern Legend knocked off one of Hong Kong’s greatest-ever gallopers to win the Champions Mile 12 months ago but trainer Caspar Fownes is realistic about the chances of his eight-year-old warhorse slaying another giant in Sunday’s iteration of the Group One.

While Beauty Generation was well past his best when Southern Legend pipped him to win his first international Group One a year ago, Golden Sixty is well and truly in his prime and looks all but unbeatable.

That being said, Southern Legend wasn’t far off Golden Sixty in their last meeting – finishing a head away in second in January’s Stewards’ Cup – and Fownes expects another big run from his ageless galloper.

“He doesn’t know how to run a bad race and he’s in good form,” Fownes said. “He is so honest, he’s just a lovely horse and he looks beautiful so I’m sure he’ll give us a nice race again.”

With seven Group One placings to go with his one victory and over HK$55 million in prize money, Southern Legend doesn’t owe anyone anything but Fownes said the son of Not A Single Doubt will race on as long as he’s content.

“He really enjoys being in a stable environment and his routine – he gets to Conghua a little bit and back to Hong Kong. He’s in a good space, he’s a happy horse,” the trainer said.

As well as Golden Sixty, Southern Legend tackles Ka Ying Star, Mighty Giant, More Than This and Healthy Happy as he looks to go one better than his three runner-up finishes at the top level this season, with Karis Teetan staying aboard.

Fownes’ other Group One runner on Champions Day is Sky Field in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, with the four-year-old stepping out in elite company for the first time after finishing ninth in Group Two Sprint Cup earlier this month.

Japanese raider Danon Smash will start an odds-on favourite but it is anyone’s guess who will stand up out of the local brigade.

“Sky Field has drawn a good gate and should be able to attack the line, so hopefully he can show us that he’s not far off being a Group One horse,” Fownes said of his galloper, who will jump from gate one under Blake Shinn.

“I always respect ratings and I realise he’s not there yet when you’re taking on really good sprinters, but he’s not far off them.

“Blake has been riding him in trackwork every day and he’s happy with the horse, so hopefully he gives us a nice effort.

“He’ll just be relaxed and find a spot without any pressure. He’ll be where he is, he’s a horse that has got a sensitive mouth and as long as the speed is genuine he’s as good as gold.”

Fownes saddles up seven runners outside Sunday’s three majors, with Bigwood set to race for the first time since June 2019 in the Class Two FWD Insurance Act Champion Handicap (1,600m) after a string of leg issues.

“We’ve worked so hard to get him back and it’s been wonderful that the owner has been so patient,” Fownes said.

“You can’t expect too much from his first run in nearly two years but he’s had a couple of nice trials leading into it and he’s had a very nice preparation – we’ve brought him along really well.

“If he can run midfield I’ll be very happy and he’s the type of horse that will strip fitter from racing. He’s such a competitive horse so he might still run well.”