Caspar Fownes will head to Happy Valley on Wednesday night looking to put Sunday’s “heart-wrenching” loss of big-name import Enrich Delight (喜豐寶) behind him.

The four-year-old – who raced as Chenier in Australia – broke down during the Classic Mile at Sha Tin and was euthanised after suffering multiple fractures in his left fore fetlock.

“It was heart-wrenching, he was such a lovely horse,” Fownes said. “Who knows what his future could have been, he was just the right horse for Hong Kong.”

The former Godolphin galloper was sent out a $3.60 second elect by punters after a win and a third from two Hong Kong starts.

“He had a beautiful temperament and when they settle in and perform straight off the bat, you know you’re in business,” Fownes said.

Fownes also had the favourite in the race but took no solace from Sky Darci’s (達心星) sixth, three and a half lengths behind winner Excellent Proposal (勁搏).

“It was a very substandard run. It’s not like him because he’s so honest,” the trainer said, adding that he’ll make the call in the coming days whether to push onto the Classic Cup.

“We’ll see how he is and we’ll plan from there. He’s a little bit [stiff in his joints] so we’ve just got to go over him. I would say that he should bounce back, good horses always bounce back and we can forgive them one substandard race.”

There were some positives for Fownes to take out of Sunday’s meeting, with Southern Legend (川河尊駒) producing a gutsy second behind Golden Sixty (金鎗六十) in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) and Rise High running on for fifth after a lengthy lay-off.

“What can you say – what a legend. It was exciting for a while,” Fownes said. “Obviously Golden Sixty (金鎗六十) is a true champion but you can’t knock Southern Legend (川河尊駒), he’s beaten everything else.

“I was so happy [with Rise High (跳出香港)], after 13 months and all those horses were rock-hard fit and he’s only got beaten two and a half lengths.

“He just relaxed at the back and worked home nicely. The plan now is to strip him a bit fitter with some trials and then go to the Gold Cup.”

While Rise High (跳出香港) will tackle Golden Sixty (金鎗六十) again over the 2,000m of the Gold Cup on February 21, Southern Legend (川河尊駒) will step back in trip for the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) on the same day.