Bob Charley Winner Classique Legend Ticks Box Ahead of 2020 The Everest

June 6, 2020

Bob Charley Winner Classique Legend Ticks Box Ahead of 2020 The Everest

Class prevailed on a Heavy track at Royal Randwick on Saturday with returning grey Classique Legend saluting in the Listed $150,000 Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) ahead of his The Everest 2020 bid in the spring.Classique Legend (Photo: Steve Hart). Races.com.au

The Les Bridge-trained Not A Single Doubt four-year-old was having his first start since last November and enjoyed a return to winning form fresh.

Winner of the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick last April, Classique Legend had been winless since and originally set to be sent to Hong Kong.

He returned to the Sydney stables of Bridge in March however and part-owner Carmel Size, daughter of legendary trainer Neville Begg, was thrilled to see the horse return in style with a big spring ahead.

“It’s just so exciting to be able to have him come to the races and win,” she told the media.

“He’s not fit yet so we’re just delighted.

“Mr Bridge has done just a great job in thinking about how we get to The Everest from the 25th of March when he [Classique Legend] walked back into the stable.

“I love the horse dearly.”

Classique Legend is raced by Boniface Ho who has a slot in this year’s $15 million The Everest (1200m) and now looks to have a star sprinter ready made for the world’s richest turf race.

Mr Ho purchases his The Everest 2020 slot from the ATC and now the challenge will be getting Classique Legend primed and ready to fire in the feature on October 17.

“It’s all up in the air at the moment,” Size said.

“It is a long way away, we might see him back at the trials.

“At the moment the plan was to just run him here today, maybe trial him and keep him ticking over in the stable.”

The gelding ran a luckless sixth 2.5 lengths beaten by the three-year-old Chris Waller-trained winner Yes Yes Yes in last year’s The Everest results and will be out to atone this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

McEvoy reunited with the progressive star in the Bob Charley, formerly the June Stakes, and said there was plenty of improvement to come, especially considering the horse wasn’t 100% suited to the track conditions first-up.

“He’s an easy horse to like,” he said.

“It’s good to have him still here on our shores.

“I was a little bit nervous coming here today…but the horse has done a good job.

“I’m sure he’s better again once he gets back on a firmer surface.

“They were in-form sprinters…I feel he’s got a better turn of foot on a dry surface.

“He’s got here today and ticked the box, had the run…there’s a bit of a break now before a sort of semi-suitable race.

“It’s good to have him back and sort of ticking over.

“It could be a blessing in disguise [having him nearly go to Hong Kong].

“He went out a boy and come back a man. Let’s hope he can show us that back here in the spring.”

McEvoy was happy to let Classique Legend drift back and look for cover in the early stages of the race as the veteran market mover, nine-year-old Jungle Edge, pinged the gates and took up the lead.

Free striding in front, proven mudlark and the race’s 2018 winner Jungle Edge led from Snitz, who was chasing a fifth win on the trot, and moved to the middle of the track after the turn heading down the straight for home.

Classique Legend was quickly wound up and closing in over the final furlong as the easing favourite and Matthew Dunn’s fit on-speed runner Snitz, last start winner of the Listed Takeover Target Stakes, went to the front 100m out.

It was Classique Legend who drew clear in the final stages however and got the money, Southern Lad closing late to finish runner-up and Snitz holding for third.

Classique Legend is currently rated a $12 chance in all-in The Everest 2020 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au with full markets available here.

2020 Bob Charley AO Stakes Results

Color Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 1 CLASSIQUE LEGEND Les Bridge Kerrin McEvoy 11 60kg $3.40F
2 12 SOUTHERN LAD John O’Shea Ms Rachel King 0.5L 8 53kg $7.50
3 6 SNITZ Matthew Dunn Tim Clark 0.7L 10 56kg $7.50
4 4 VIRIDINE James Cummings James McDonald 1.8L 9 58kg $12
5 2 JUNGLE EDGE Mick Bell Nash Rawiller 3.9L 4 60kg $4.20
6 11 HANDLE THE TRUTH Keith Dryden Andrew Adkins 4.3L 6 53.5kg $13
7 9 JONKER David Atkins Jason Collett 4.6L 7 54kg $41
8 8 CORUSCATE James Cummings Tommy Berry 7.8L 2 54kg $10
9 7 CARE TO THINK Matthew Dunn Adam Hyeronimus 7.9L 5 55.5kg $61
10 3 TACTICAL ADVANTAGE Kris Lees Hugh Bowman 8.1L 3 60kg $21
11 5 PASSAGE OF TIME Joseph Pride Brenton Avdulla 9.4L 1 56kg $61
13 ADELONG Brad Widdup Robbie Dolan (a) 0
10 CATESBY Lindsey Kennedy 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off