Classique Legend Simply Breathtaking in The Everest

Mark Smith - Saturday October 17

Run at breakneck speed, The Everest (1200m) set up perfectly for a backmarker, and there are few better at that caper than Classique Legend who turned the $15 million feature at Randwick into a walk in the park.

So easy for Classique Legend (Steve Hart)

A third winner in four runnings of the race for Kerrin McEvoy, the four-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt had just four of the 12 runners behind him on straightening as Eduardo set scorching fractions out in front.

Advertisement

By the 200 metres, Classique Legend had them in his sights, and there was no stopping him from there.   

Trained by octogenarian Les Bridge, Classique Legend kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Godolphin's Exceed And Excel four-year-old Bivouac by two and a half lengths.

Lope de Vega's ever-consistent Gytrash nosed out Trekking (Street Cry) for third.

McEvoy said the pace was incredible.

"It was a funny one because I needed to come back behind Trekking to get a slot and then they went quicker," he said.

"I just had to ride my race. I looked up at the 600m, and they were well in front, they were off.

"Full credit to my horse with that cover and that soft time of it early, he was really able to power when I asked him.

"Soon after straightening I was confident I was going to pick them up.

"I'm thrilled to get the horse over the line. Les (Bridge) has pulled a masterstroke off. He has kept him in training from July, and Carmel (Size) has attended to him like a baby. It has been fantastic. It is an unbelievable feeling to win another one.

"Every big win is special. I was lucky enough to team up with Redzel soon after he got racing with the Snowdens.

"This is a horse that Carmel and Les threw me on early in his career and he showed instant brilliance.

Bridge said he hoped the horse had made believers of the doubters.

"I’ve been telling you for three months. How much start do you want?” Bridge enthused.

“One of my greatest friends was (vetinarian) Percy Sykes. He said it's all in the genes. Some horses just get all the good genes.

“This horse has got a girth on him that deep and a V8 motor. It’s unbelievable.”

Classique Legend a $400,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Purchased for a sales-topping $400,000 by Carmel Size, on behalf of Hong Kong-based owner Bon Ho, out of the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Classique Legend advances his record to six wins, two seconds and two thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $8,635,500.

The grey gelding is still to check off the Group 1 box. However, it is doubtful if he will run in many stronger fields of sprinters.

A year older half-brother to the Hong Kong flyer Aethero (Sebring), Classique Legend is out of the Encosta de Lago mare Pinocchio, a winning full sister to champion miler Racing to Win.

A third win in the race for Kerrin McEvoy

Purchased for $320,000 out of the Milburn Creek draft at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Pinocchio has a two-year-old colt named Fairy Legend in training with Gary and John Moore.

He was purchased by Legend Racing for $1.1 million out of the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Pinocchio missed in 2018 despite being covered by Capitalist, Pierro and Merchant Navy. On August 20 the star mare foaled a filly by I Am Invincible.  

Arrowfield Studs pensioned Not A Single Doubt rockets to the top of the Champion sire title, and he may take some dislodging.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Tab Everest 1200m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:08.27
1
Classique Legend
- 5g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Pinocchio (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: L J Bridge Rdr: K Mc Evoy 58.5
2
2.5
Bivouac
- 4h Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Dazzler (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: G Boss 58.5
Inglis December Online Sale $22,500
Seller: Godolphin
Buyer: Cody Morgan Racing
3
3.0
Gytrash
- 5g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Miss Barley (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G V Richards Rdr: J R Collett 58.5
4
3.1
Trekking
- 6g Street Cry (IRE) x Outdoor (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Parr 58.5
5
3.4
Haut Brion Her
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x One In A Million (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
6
3.6
Santa Ana Lane
- 8g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Fast Fleet (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: S Clipperton 58.5
7
3.8
Nature Strip
- 6g Nicconi (AUS) x Strikeline (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
8
4.1
Libertini
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Aloha (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56.5
9
6.1
Tofane
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x Baggy Green (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
10
6.5
Behemoth
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Penny Banger (AUS) (Zedrich (AUS))
Tnr: D R Jolly Rdr: N Rawiller 58.5
11
6.8
Eduardo
- 7g Host (CHI) x Blushing (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Rachel King 58.5
12
8.8
Dollar For Dollar
- 8g High Chaparral (IRE) x Pretty Penny (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Tim Clark 58.5
More Reading...
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 The Everest
The moment has arrived! And what a journey it has been to The TAB Everest eve of 2025 - Official G1 status secured, 20 million bucks up for grabs, the fastest horse on the planet flown in and TV coverage going global - it's all happening!
Blue Gum Farm Find Positive in Debutant Result for Sejardan
The victory by Torture in Wednesday's Listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield kicked off the New Zealand based stallion Sword Of State's career in fine style and Blue Gum Farm have reason to be excited by the impressive performance.
Too Darn Hot Filly Chasing Guineas Start
Stablemates Oratia Beauty and Geneva will have opportunities to book their passages south when they step out at Ellerslie on Saturday.
State of Excitement for Cambridge Stud
In a week where Cambridge Stud’s focus is largely around Joliestar’s tilt at the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m), it was their first-season sire Sword Of State who was making headlines across the Tasman on Wednesday.
Brave Smashing Out Winners
Yarraman Park’s Brave Smash (Jpn) has been on a winning roll since the start of this month and racked up his fifth winner for October when talented colt Smashing Lad scored an impressive maiden win at Warrnambool on Thursday.
$1.5Million Dundeel 3YO Salutes
When Arrowfield boss John Messara turns up to a Thursday meeting at Hawkesbury to watch a $1.5million Dundeel 3YO go around it’s a fairly safe bet that it will be winning.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 16
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Not This Time 2026 Fee Surges to US$250,000
When Widden Stud announced they would be shuttling Group I winning sprinter Cogburn (USA) to Australia this spring there were many Australian breeders who had to start doing some homework on his sire Not This Time.
800k Night of Thunder Colt Stars - Record-Breaking Tattersalls October Book 2 Concludes
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concluded with new benchmarks set for turnover and median. The sale aggregate of 70,124,500 guineas was well clear of the wide-margin record set in 2024, and the median of 76,000 guineas was a 9% increase on the previous year’s record equalling figure. The sale clearance rate was an excellent 92%.
Mr Mozart First Foals Impress at Highview Stud
Young Snitzel stallion Sword of State kicked off his stud career in the best way possible on Wednesday with an Aussie 2YO stakes-winner in Torture, but he’s not the only well credentialed son of Snitzel in New Zealand with Highview Stud home to Mr Mozart.