Yann Barberot is full of confidence Beauvatier can topple the leading lights in Sunday’s HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m).

The four-year-old comes into the Sha Tin contest as something of a dark horse against proven Group 1 performers, but his trainer is confident he can post a career-best performance.

He did exactly that on his last start in the G2 Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Newmarket in October, coming home a dominant winner in a strong field, and Barberot believes the step back up to a mile for the first time in over a year will trigger a similar effort.

“He needs pace in a race, which means we’re forced to run him over shorter trips in Europe and especially France,” the trainer said after assessing his horse at trackwork on Thursday (11 December). “The other day at Newmarket over 1400 metres on a stiff track, he showed that he could be an interesting horse at 1600 metres, especially around a quick track like Sha Tin. This was always among my targets for the end of the season.

“His win last time showed that we’ve got to the end of the year with a horse in mighty form, and we’ve minded him throughout the year, so he hasn’t had a lot of really tough battles, and that’s why I’m so excited about running him here.

“He’s not a Group 1 winner, but he’s shown he’s up to that level, and he arrives here in great form. Sunday will be interesting, for all that we’re among the outsiders.”

Beauvatier has already posted some excellent efforts in Group 1 company, including when finishing third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1400m) as a two-year-old. He filled the same position in the G1 Prix Jean Prat (1400m), G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m) and G1 Prix de la Foret (1400m) at three.

Also a winner in the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis (1200m) this campaign, there is reason to believe he can improve away from home, given how Barberot’s Zagrey outran his 50/1 odds in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) against Equinox in 2023, with the grey making his top-level breakthrough later that year. For Beauvatier, the jockey booking of Alexis Pouchin is another reason to be hopeful.

“Alexis has done a winter season here before, so that’s a help,” Barberot said. “He’s a young jockey but one with a lot of talent, and he knows the horse very well, which is the most important thing.”

While respectful of the opposition in Sunday’s HK$36 million event, the trainer is delighted with his horse’s condition.

“For me, the real danger lies with Soul Rush and Embroidery, they’re real racehorses,” he said.

“The main thing is to come here with a horse in form, that’s the priority. He took the journey over very well, and he is in very good physical shape. I was never worried about the travel beforehand because this horse has a great temperament.”

Beauvatier drew gate six in Thursday’s barrier draw for the 14-horse LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.

Sunday’s (14 December) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.25pm with the Class 4 Fairy King Prawn Handicap (1400m).