Reigning Everest champ is getting back to his old self as he prepares to defend his crown
After a stylish barrier trial win at Randwick on Friday, trainer Les Bridge declared there is still plenty of improvement to come from Classique Legend.
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Trainer Les Bridge maintains there is still up to three lengths improvement in Classique Legend after the big grey’s brilliant barrier trial win at Royal Randwick on Friday.
Classique Legend, the defending The TAB Everest champ, looked more like his old self as he bounded away from his rivals to win his 1050m trial by nearly three lengths in 1m 02.21s, with a final 600m sectional of 33.42s.
The “Grey Flash” was an impressive sight as he responded enthusiastically to jockey Kerrin McEvoy when asked to take a run inside the leader on the turn before accelerating clear to win easing down.
Bridge said this was the happiest he has been with Classique Legend since the gelding returned from Hong Kong earlier this year.
“We are getting there,” Bridge said. “I don’t worry about barrier trials, whether you win them or not, what’s important to me is how he pulled up and he came through the trial beautifully.
“The main thing was his recovery rate which was great compared to the other day when he had a big blow and I was really worried about him.
“But he’s back to the old horse I know, lovely and relaxed, and that’s what impressed me.”
Bridge revealed he is still unlikely to run Classique Legend in the Premiere Stakes next week and favours going first-up into the $15 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 16.
“I know this horse so well and he’s got another two or three lengths improvement to come,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “At this stage, I don’t think we will run in the Premiere. He is very good first-up and he will be fit and ready for The Everest.
“He will have a few more fast gallops, of course, and there is the option of trialling him again on October 8 if I feel he needs it. “But this is the happiest I’ve been with the horse since he’s come back to the stables.
“I’m a lot more confident now. They will know he is there in The Everest.”
Libertini, trained by Anthony Cummings, was beaten more than four lengths when sixth in Classique Legend’s trial but it was noticeable she wasn’t tested at any stage by jockey Tommy Berry.
Cummings also favours going first-up into The Everest – if Libertini is picked up by a slot-holder.
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Trainer Jamie Richards confirmed boom mare Entriviere won’t be in the early speed duel for the Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Entriviere, a powerful winner of the Sheraco Stakes when resuming earlier this month, is drawn to start on the outside of the nine runners in the feature mares race.
“It looks like we will have to ride her a little bit conservatively from out there,” Richards said.
“But we have James McDonald on and there is no one riding better so he will know what to do.”
Entriviere, the winner of six races (and two second placings) from eight starts, is a firm $2.30 favourite for the Golden Pendant despite being beaten at her only attempt at 1400m.
Richards maintains the step up in distance is not an issue, in fact it should help the mare.
“If you go on her pedigree, being a Tavistock mare, she should enjoy the trip,” Richards said. “She seems to relax well in her races and hits the line strongly.”
Richards also has brilliant colt Sword Of State primed for his Sydney debut in the Listed $140,000 Heritage Stakes (1100m).
Sword Of State was New Zealand’s outstanding two-year-old last season, winning four of his five starts including the Group 1 Sistema Stakes.
Under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Heritage Stakes, Sword Of State has topweight of 60kg and is conceding up to 6kg to his rivals.
“We just had to be a bit patient with Sword Of State but he seems to be in the right shape now,’ Richards said.
“He has to carry a fair bit of weight and he’s not an overly big horse so it won’t be easy for him.
“I have a lot of respect for those Sydney colts, particularly as there is Everest talk for a couple of them (Paulele, Home Affairs) so we will just have to see how they front up.”
The leading New Zealand trainer also has his top-class mare Probabeel contesting the Group 1 $1 million Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown – but he is realistic about her chances of upsetting the sensational Zaaki.
“From what I have seen of Zaaki he looks a superstar, he has been so impressive in his Australian career so far,” Richards said.
“But we are happy with Probabeel, I thought she ran great last week in the Rupert Clarke (fifth to Sierra Sue) and we wanted to get her back to the weight-for-age route. “We felt this was the best way going from 1400m to 1800 and it looks like we have done the right thing with only five horses in a $1 million race so hopefully she can run well.”
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Sydney jockeys will wear black armbands in the TAB Highway at Rosehill Gardens as a mark of respect for the late Alan Scorse.
Scorse, a respected Newcastle racing identity, passed away on Thursday after a long battle with illness. He was 69.
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys paid tribute to Scorse, acknowledging his success both as a jockey and trainer.
“The racing industry has lost a valuable member in Alan Scorse,” V’landys said.
“Alan was an outstanding jockey before turning his hand to training where he became one of
Newcastle’s top trainers with 265 winners.
“Alan was the ultimate horseman – he was professional, considerate and was an extremely
popular figure in Newcastle.
“He was first and foremost a gentleman and our sincere condolences are extended to his family
and friends.”
Scorse rode more than 1250 winners including Group 1 successes with Manawapoi in the 1976 Stradbroke Handicap and Spanish Mix in the 1993 William Reid Stakes.
He also had considerable success as a trainer with the likes of Plain Crazy, Sir Covet, Looking Fur Lang, Who’s Ready and others.
Scorse was inducted into the Newcastle And Hunter Racing’s Hall of Fame earlier this year. He is survived by his son, Mathew and Bradley, as well as his brother John who was also a successful rider, and Alan’s extended family.
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Racing NSW has taken a bumper 212 nominations for the inaugural $700,000 Four Pillars on Golden Eagle Day at Rosehill Gardens on October 30.
The Four Pillars, a Benchmark 68 race for Midway horses, is similar to The Kosciuszko with 18 slot winners getting an opportunity to select an eligible horse for the 1500m race next month and negotiate a split of prizemoney with the horse’s connections.
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5 years ago
Godolphin’s Astern, trained by John O’Shea, was back near last on the turn when he was taken wide by jockey James McDonald before unleashing a monstrous finish to win the Golden Rose by a widening margin of more than two lengths from Omei Sword and Impending at Rosehill. Team Snowden’s Tycoon Tara scored a deserved win over Dixie Blossoms in the Golden Pendant, Veladero won the Gloaming Stakes and Moral Victory scored in the Shannon Stakes. Black Heart Bart won the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.
10 years ago
Manawanui, cleverly ridden by Glyn Schofield, gave trainer Ron Leemon the biggest win of his career when he held off favourite Smart Missile and Helmet to win the Golden Rose. Screen won the inaugural Golden Rose, defeating Gybe and Ofcourseican, and Hugh Bowman rode his third Gloaming Stakes winner in six years on Strike The Stars. Lion Tamer, winner of the Victoria Derby the previous year, was back in Group 1-winning form taking out the Underwood Stakes.
20 years ago
Champion Northerly followed his epic Feehan Stakes win over Sunline with a dominant win in the Underwood Stakes. He then won the Caulfield Stakes and Cox Plate during an outstanding spring campaign. Courvisier under Glen Boss out-stayed Excellerator in the Gloaming Stakes. Star apprentice Tommy Berry rode King Lionheart to victory in the Shannon Stakes.
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