After 60 years as a trainer, Les Bridge trusts his eye and his instinct.
Both are telling him that Classique Legend is going at least as well as he was 12 months ago and that augurs well for the sprinter’s defence of his Everest crown.
It has been a circular journey for the popular grey, who returned home a couple of months ago after a failed stint for Caspar Fownes in Hong Kong where he finished down the track at his only start in the International Sprint then suffered a bleed following a routine trackwork gallop in March.
Bridge has slowly but surely brought him back to full health and he believes the Classique Legend of 12 months ago is back.
“I can’t control what happened in Hong Kong,” Bridge said.
“That’s the thing I don’t know about, but from what I’ve seen of the horse personally he is bigger, stronger and going as good, if not better, in his work.”
With barrier trial dates shifted due to COVID, Classique Legend will now have his first public hitout at Randwick on September 10, eight days before he resumes in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at his home track.
He will then head to the Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 2 before a second shot at Everest glory on October 16 when he will bid to become the second horse after Redzel to win the $15 million feature twice.
The program is almost a replica of the one Bridge followed with such success last year.
“I never change what works,” Bridge said.
“Sixty years of experience, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I am trying to keep to exactly what I did last year, to the letter, if I can.”
The oldest serving trainer at Randwick, octogenarian Bridge was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame this year and his passion for horses has never waned.
Nor has his judgement.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au