Leading Everest contenders Classique Legend and Eduardo both won barrier trials at Randwick on Friday morning.
2020 Everest winner Classique Legend - can he do it again? - image Steve Hart.
Last year’s Everest winner Classique Legend was having his third trial this preparation and steamed to the line under a hold to win his 1050m trial by a head over Entriviere.
They ran 1:03.04 with the last 600m in 33.93 seconds.
The Les Bridge trained son of Not a Single Doubt has not raced since finishing unplaced in the HK International Sprint last December, so is facing a task to win his second Everest without a lead up race, but it never pays to underestimate a champion.
The Joe Pride trained Eduardo was kept up to the mark with a slick 740m trial, leading all the way to win by a length in 43.50 with his last 600m in 33.48.
Eduardo failed in the Everest last year after going too hard in the lead, but is a far more seasoned and effective campaigner this time around and is clearly in the best form of his life.
Earlier this week Chris Waller trained Everest contenders Nature Strip and Home Affairs galloped from the gates at Rosehill on Wednesday in a trial that impressed track watchers, while Anthony Cummings’s star mare Libertini also galloped solo on the same day with great enthusiasm.
To be run at Randwick on October 16, The Everest is shaping as an open race with a strong case to be made for most runners.
