Premiere Stakes: Classique Legend on track to enhance Everest claims
Trainer Les Bridge will trust Nash Rawiller’s instincts to plot the right path on his brilliant sprinter Classique Legend in the Premiere Stakes at Royal Randwick.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ray & Duff: Legend locked an loaded
Inside mail: Newnham’s a Dream believer
Trainer Les Bridge will leave riding tactics to champion jockey Nash Rawiller on brilliant sprinter Classique Legend in the Group 2 $500,000 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“It’s a hard race to figure out what sort of speed they will go but I wouldn’t be surprised if Classique Legend sits outside the leader, out of trouble,’’ Bridge said. “But I’ll leave all that up to Nash – that is why you put these blokes on and he will sum it up pretty quickly.’’
Classique Legend is the $2 favourite in early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Premiere Stakes that is challenging for race of the day status at the Epsom Handicap meeting.
Stream over 50 sports live & anytime on your TV or favourite device with KAYO SPORTS. The biggest Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Just $25/month. No lock-in contract. Get your 14 day free trial
There are only six runners in the Premiere but they include Osborne Bulls, who is widely regarded as Godolphin’s No.1 seed for the $14 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 19.
Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and talented sprinter Graff are fringe Everest contenders who can make a case for inclusion in the world’s richest turf race by winning the Premiere Stakes.
Bridge doesn’t have that worry with Classique Legend already securing an Everest start through slot-holders and owners, Bon Ho and Carmel Size.
But the master Randwick horseman had been concerned the lightly-raced Classique Legend might have lacked the experience to take on the more seasoned, established sprinters in The Everest – until the four-year-old’s excellent comeback effort when a close second to Pierata (Redzel was third) in The Shorts last month.
“I was never worried about Classique Legend being up to the other horses but life is all about timing, training is all about timing,’’ Bridge said.
“In a perfect world, you would like to have had another race preparation before going to The Everest. We don’t have that luxury as the race is on in a couple of weeks.
“But I’m not so worried now as I know he has measured up to them. In The Shorts, they were two very good horses he split.’’
Classique Legend was having only his fifth start in The Shorts after a debut preparation that yielded three wins and a third in four starts, culminating with his Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint win during The Championships in April.
Bridge, who has trained so many topliners over the years including Sir Dapper, Drawn, Kensei, Row Of Waves and Hot Danish, spotted the potential in Classique Legend very early in the grey’s career.
“He has always been a lovely horse,’’ Bridge said. “Everything about him, his demeanour, he’s always had this beautiful, fluent action, he just looks a good horse.
“As a two-year-old he had a few little issues, he was growing, then we cut (gelded) him and I just felt it was better to give him a bit of time.
“Then when he did get to the races in the autumn, he couldn’t do much more than he did in his first preparation. He’s shown what a good horse he is to do what he has done in the time frame.
“You never know how good they are going to turn out but put it this way I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t turned out alright.’’
Bridge can’t fault Classique Legend’s progress since The Short and had this final word of warning for Premiere Stakes rivals on Saturday. “I’ve been very happy with his trackwork, I’m sure he has gone forward from the other day,’’ he said.