Adam Campton will revive the career of Beauty Legacy at Doomben on Saturday, as he looks to return the former Australian Guineas runner-up to his former glory.
Carrying the colours made famous by the legendary Beauty Generation in Hong Kong, Beauty Legacy (formerly Hawkshot), will make his Queensland debut after being retired from the Asian racing mecca following one of the most puzzling careers.
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Arriving with a spruik, Beauty Legacy became the most hyped horse in Hong Kong following his debut blitz in January 2020, but did not win again in his subsequent 23 starts for master trainer John Size.
Racing as Hawkshot, the former David Hayes-trained galloper ran second to Mystic Journey in the 2019 Group 1 Australian Guineas, and is a Group 2 winner in his own right.
As Hong Kong’s biggest owners, Campton said many in Australia would not realise the money the Kwok family pour into racing each year through their purchases.
Adam Campton (second from left) recently landed his first Saturday metropolitan winner. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography
“They are huge owners and it would be massive for us if we can get this horse going,” he said.
“Patty (Kwok) has been great to deal with. People in Australia probably don’t realise how big they are in terms of horses they own and money they spend. It would be good to prove that we can get these horses back to Australia and race on for a bit with them.”
Last seen racing in December 2021, Beauty Legacy underwent back surgery after arriving in Australia before enjoying a spell in a paddock.
After a strong trial last week Campton believes he is close to returning him to his former glory, but admits he needs to see it on the racetrack first.
“He went from 102 to 72 rating in Hong Kong, it shows maybe he wasn’t the horse he once was,” he said.
“We have had him for maybe six months, there was a set back in there with his back, but we fixed that with some back surgery.
Beauty Legacy will race in the famous Beauty Generation colours. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images
“He is a very big horse who is very keen on the track, we have tried a few things that seem to be working.
“I was probably one of his knockers in Hong Kong, I was seeing how hot and bothered he was, which was nothing against John Size of course, but he just didn’t seem to be one of those horses that suited Hong Kong.
“He won like Phar Lap on debut, but he was also so keen — he is just a monster.
“He still gets real hot on his trips away and going to the trials.”
Beauty Legacy is the latest in a long line of former Hong Kong gallopers for Campton, who said he is looking to get Beauty Legacy to bigger and better things.
“When I knew this horse was retiring from Hong Kong, I messaged Patty and had a friend help us out, we thought the Gold Coast would be a pretty good lifestyle for him, along with a nice break on a farm,” he said.
“Everything he has done for us, jumpouts, trials, it has been pretty serious work,” he said.
“Ability-wise he is a Group 1 horse, he has shown that before, but it has been a long time since he has done it.”
Despite his Hong Kong rating plummeting to 72, Queensland handicappers slapped him with a 79.5 mark, leaving Campton to nominate him for both the Benchmark 78 (1200m) Handicap, along with Open (1200m).
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