Les Bridge is hoping for favourable weather as Irish Legend looks to make it back-to-back wins
Les Bridge is keen for Irish Legend to back-up at Randwick following last weekend’s win but it all depends on the weather.
The maestro Les Bridge is relying on improving track conditions for Irish Legend to continue his winning form in the Furphy Handicap (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Irish Legend, the former English stayer who is raced by Hong Kong-based Bon Ho, broke through for his first Australian win at Rosehill seven days ago and Bridge wants to run the gelding again provided the Randwick track surface doesn’t dip into the heavy range.
“The track is a soft 6 at the moment and I don’t want it to get any worse than that,” Bridge said.
“We ran him on a heavy track last year and he ran last. They tell me he did something similar when he was racing in England.
“The way he has come through his Rosehill win, I think he’s right to back up on Saturday. I want to run him but you never know until you try them on the back-up.
“I don’t have much choice as there is not anther suitable race for a month. I’m just worried about the track rating.”
In an open race, Irish Legend is at $7 in overnight TAB Fixed Odds betting behind Logan Street Lion, the $3.90 favourite.
Bridge described Irish Legend as a “typical English horse who has taken a while to settle in” but is convinced the five-year-old gelding’s best racing is still to come.
The Hall of Fame trainer also provided an update on his 2020 The Everest winner Classique Legend, who is recovering from a near-foreleg injury he sustained when well beaten behind Nature Strip in The Shorts last spring.
“They are going to do some scans on him again in a couple of months,” Bridge said.
“He won’t race again this season. I’d like to think we can get him ready for The Everest again but we will have to wait and see.”
THE BEST BARRIERS
The best barriers at Royal Randwick for the last 3 years (in order of wins)
1000m: 1,6,4,5
1100m: 3,4,5,6
1400m: 1,2,3,7
1600m: 3,4,2,5
2000m: 2,1,5,6
THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Coincide $7-$4.20 with bets of $500 at $7, $500 at $6.50, $12,500 at $5.50, $1,500 e/w at $4.80/$2, $500 at $4.80, $400 at $4.80, $5,300 at $4.40, $500 at $4.40 twice, Fleetwood $15-$7-$3.90 with bets of $500 at $13, $400 at $13 twice, Rockabilly Rebel $6-$4.60-$4.80
Race 2: Dr Evil $13-$8-$8.50
Race 3: Mogo Magic $4.20-$2.30 after bets of $900 at $3.60, $500 at $3.40, $400 at $3.30, $950 at $3.10, $500 at $3.10, $500 at $2.80, $1,177 at $2.70, $600 at $2.70, $1,334 at $2.50
Race 4: Almania $15-$9-$8.50, Tony Be $8-$6
Race 5: Passeggiata $3.30-$2.70 after bets of $1,200 at $3.30, $500 at $3, $20,000 at $2.70
Race 6: Looks Like Elvis $6-$4.60, Nicolini Vito $8-$4.20-$4, Titanium Power $4-$3.70-$3.60, Shaquero $26-$19-$15
Race 7: Lekvarte $11-$7-$5.50, Sweet Mercy $12-$9-$9.50
Race 8: Kanazawa $4-$3.40-$3.80, Kettle Hill $7-$7.50-$6-$5 after bets of $400 at $7.50, $450 at $6, Shalailed $13-$9.50
Race 9: Star Sparks $4.60-$3.50 with bets of $589 at $4.40, $667 at $4, $715 at $3.80, $770 at $3.60
Race 10: Po Kare Kare $3.50-$3, Diamond Dealer $11-$7-$8, Narito $4.40-$3.60
EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 4,8,10,11
Race 4: 2,5,7
Race 5: 2,5,7
Race 6: 1,4,6,8
QUADDIE
Race 7: 5,7,9,11
Race 8: 1,4,6,7
Race 9: 3,9,10
Race 10: 1,5,7,11
PRICE CHECK
Coincide and Fleetwood (race 1) have both been heavily backed in the juvenile opener. Coincide has been backed from $7-$4.20 after some big bets including $12,500 at $5.50, $1,500 e/w at $4.80/$2 and $5,300 at $4.40, while Fleetwood’s odds have shortened dramatically from $15 to $3.90 favouritism after consistent support including bets of $500 at $13 and $400 at $13 twice.
TRIAL POINTERS
Mogo Magic (race 3) is a son of 2008 Golden Rose winner Duporth out of a mare by the 2013 race winner Zoustar and is presently unbeaten in his two starts. The Scott Collings-trained three-year-old was $1.75 into $1.55 when he ran his four rivals off their feet, winning his 1000m Sapphire Coast Maiden by close enough to seven lengths. 18 days later, Mogo Magic once again put his speed to good use, this time winning a Wagga Class 1 by three and a half-lengths. The Goulburn galloper lines-up in Saturday’s TAB Highway off an impressive four length trial win at Kembla on January 4.
Backrower (race 5) was a $200,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase in 2021. The colt is a son of another Golden Rose winner, Astern, and is himself a half-brother to Kris Lees’ triple Group 1 winner, Le Romain. Backrower has raced four times ahead of Saturday’s return winning twice, both at Newcastle. It is worth noting that the only three horses to have beaten Backrower to the post are all Group 1 performers (and from the Waller camp), Osipenko, Madame Pommery and Manzoice. Backrower looked sharp as always when runner-up in a January 12 heat at Rosehill.
SECTIONAL STARS
Dr Evil (race 2) could easily eclipse $200,000 in earnings in Saturday’s Midway Handicap, perched as he is on $195,640. Whatever happens today, the son of Casino Prince has been a fabulous investment for part-owner and trainer John Steinmetz who forked out just $4,500 for Lot 95 at the 2018 Scone Yearling Sale. Dr Evil has won five races and placed nine times from his 31 starts and has more or less been the eye-catcher in a lot of his races given his powerful finishing burst. Should be at his peak now and has James McDonald to time his run.
Cap Estel (race 7) is an Anthony Cummings trained mare by the aforementioned Zoustar. The four-year-old boasts some compelling stats to suggest that she will run better than her generous double figure odds would indicate. For starters, Cap Estel has raced at home at Royal Randwick three times for a win and third. On top of that, one of her two victories so far was in a Midway at the famous Randwick mile. Cap Estel is a second-up winner and turned in a much better effort first-up then her eighth of nine reads in what was an unsuitably short 1200m race at Canterbury won by the subsequent repeat winner, Ringmaster.
BEST BET
Star Sparks (race 9) led for a long way when resuming before his close fourth to Bazooka at Rosehill two weeks ago. Star Sparks will be fitter for that run, he’s unbeaten second-up, unbeaten at 1600m and very effective on soft tracks. Importantly, the blinkers go back on and he’s only ever won when wearing them.
VALUE BET
Bend The Knee (race 8) has taken plenty of racing to find form but he produced his best run this campaign when a close third in the Bazooka Rosehill race. Bend The Knee seems to be working his way back to something like his best and at $16 he’s at generous odds. Terrific each way value.
THE JUDGMENT
Royal Randwick
Race 5: Grainshaker Aust Vodka Hcp (1100m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I’m trying to find something to beat the favourite Passeggiata, but again she might just be a touch too slick for her opposition. As she displayed last start, her high cruising speed will have most out of their comfort zone turning for home, and while this looks a stronger race than last time, I have to be with her. Backrower has nice form around him, he probably comes on for the run, but he trialled well. Waverider Buoy ran well first-up, just tiring late but he’ll be fitter. Cardone also won on debut and looks a good prospect for Team Hawkes.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Passeggiata has gone straight to the front in both her career starts and Rachel King will look to do the same again here. I loved the way she fought on last start after it looked like a few might go past her and she can win again here. Backrower looks the biggest danger and has trialled well for this.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “The acid test for Passeggiata and while no huge knocks, we’ll look to take her on throughout the trade. Very strong speed in the race it looks so those parking off them I want to find. Boldinho ($15-$11) and Backrower ($10-$8.50) have been the two punters have specked but no huge moves here.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Passeggiata has been heavily tried in early betting and our customers think she will make it three on the trot.”
Verdict: Passeggiata
Race 6: Carrington Stakes (1400m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “What you see is what you get with Titanium Power, he’s an owner’s dream. He will roll along up on speed and as usual take a stack of running down. Looks Like Elvis became a millionaire with his Flemington placing last start, Jarrod Austin has him flying and his class puts him in the finish somewhere. Vreneli is in great form and certainly deserves a crack at this level. Superium was good last start but requires a firm track, with a bit of rain around I’m not sure he gets that. Snippy Fox is drawn to get all the favours.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Winning form is good form and Vreneli is shooting for three straight here. He has good early speed which can see him control the race and he will prove hard to run down with only 53.5kg on his back. He goes on top from Titanium Power who loves the 1400m and has won this track/trip previously.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Titanium Power looks the lay of the day to me. He’s another horse who’s hard to knock with his racing style but often has conditions to suit. Gets away from his favoured Rosehill here and has some company on speed. Looks Like Elvis ($7.50-$5.50) and Nicolini Vito ($5-$4.20) were clearly the two for me and would be happy to make a book around them. Will be standing Titanium Power.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Open affair with no real push for anything. I’ll speck Shaquero at the price.”
Verdict: Titanium Power
Race 9: Ranvet Hcp (1600m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “For those of us on the Bullfinch bandwagon, surely this is his day! He’s been chasing home the likes of Nugget and Jojo Was A Man in recent times, and with James McDonald from a soft draw, I’m only too happy to be with him again. He’ll be produced turning for home and will hit the line best of all. There are dangers including stablemate Bold Mac who ran a great race first up and only has to hold that form to be in the money. Star Sparks will be on speed and in this race for a long way. Bazooka is out to prove last start was no fluke and he has that light weight again.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Star Sparks ran okay when returning at Rosehill two weeks ago and he will take improvement from that effort. He is undefeated in three starts over 1600m and is two from two second-up. Bullfinch has been one of the best supported runners of the meeting but I’ll be looking to take him on around the $3.30 mark.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Star Sparks the one they want to back second-up with the weight swing and the blinkers going back on. There are ticks but inclined to lay again as he hasn’t done much on the clock. Bullfinch is coming out of some proper races and although he has to carry the weight, he also gets James McDonald. Should get run of the race and the way I would lean.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Star Sparks is the one they’ve come for early. Is two for two second-up and likes the sting out of the ground.”
Verdict: Star Sparks
Originally published as Les Bridge is hoping for favourable weather as Irish Legend looks to make it back-to-back wins
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