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McEvoy, Bridge hunt first G1 together

3 minute read

Les Bridge and Kerrin McEvoy will chase their maiden Group 1 win as a trainer-jockey combination in the Randwick Guineas.

Jockey : KERRIN MCEVOY and Trainer LES BRIDGE after, CLASSIQUE LEGEND winning the The Tab Everest.
Jockey : KERRIN MCEVOY and Trainer LES BRIDGE after, CLASSIQUE LEGEND winning the The Tab Everest. Picture: Racing and Sports

They shared in Classique Legend's remarkable Everest triumph, but trainer Les Bridge and jockey Kerrin Mcevoy are yet to team up for a Group One win.

The pair is hoping to change that on Saturday when they combine with emerging three-year-old Celestial Legend in the Randwick Guineas (1600m), more than 20 years after winning their first stakes race together at the same track.

McEvoy was a fresh-faced rider in his early 20s when he partnered the Bridge-trained Miss Zoe to victory in the 2002 Emancipation Stakes, kicking off a partnership that has yielded another five black-type wins, three of those aboard Classique Legend.

However, injury prematurely ended the grey's time on the racetrack and Classique Legend never got the chance to contest a Group 1 race in Australia.

Given Bridge has only ever had a handful of horses on his books during the latter stages of his 60-year training career, opportunities to win majors are rare, so McEvoy is all the more determined to grasp Saturday's chance with both hands.

"I did ride for Les a long way back. I won a Group Two on Miss Zoe in the early 2000s for him," McEvoy said.

"And then Classique Legend, that's when I started teaming up with (owner) Bon Ho and again with Les.

"Celestial Legend is an exciting young horse and who knows? He's going out to 1600 for the first time and he's definitely open to a bit more improvement out to that distance."

A brilliant last start winner of the Hobartville Stakes, Celestial Legend is on the second line of Randwick Guineas betting behind proven Group1 performer Militarize.

McEvoy has the insight of having partnered the latter to a first-up placing behind Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes and admits Celestial Legend must continue his upward trajectory if he is to topple the favourite.

However, he believes Celestial Legend does have the scope to mount that challenge, a belief stemming not only from his own faith in the horse, but that of 85-year-old Bridge.

"Les knows a good horse, he has been around more than most of us, and that gives you good confidence," McEvoy said.

"It's interesting because this horse is lightly raced and hasn't been to any grand finals, then you've got Militarize who has.

"He was up and going early and Les had to be a bit patient with this fellow.

"It's going to be an interesting race."

As for Classique Legend, his racing days might be over, but McEvoy and his family have taken him into their care, gifting the horse a wonderful new home, and potentially a new career as a showjumper.

Bridge joined McEvoy at the old Showgrounds at Centennial Park earlier this week to watch the jockey's wife Cathy put Classique Legend through his paces in what McEvoy said was a special morning.

"It's only early stages but he is really enjoying it," McEvoy said of Classique Legend.

"And Les was delighted with the way he looked. It was nice to see."

And it would be nice to see another grey deliver for the pair in the Randwick Guineas.


Racing and Sports

Randwick

Saturday, 09th March 2024

8
16:35
(local)

THE AGENCY RANDWICK GUINEAS (G1)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
AUD $1,007,000
1600m TURF GOOD
8
16:35
(local)
AUD $1,007,000
1600m GOOD

THE AGENCY RANDWICK GUINEAS (G1)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 3. CELESTIAL LEGEND (AUS) 3yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - SARRAQA (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
L J BRIDGE
$3.5
56.5kg
Legend Racing (Mgr: K K Ho)

Sales Information

2nd 1. MILITARIZE (NZ) 3yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - AMERINDIA (GB)
JAMES MCDONALD
CHRIS WALLER
$2.2
56.5kg
Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Trilogy, Newgate S F, Horse Ventures, Go Bloodstock Australia, Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Carpe Diem, Aston Bloodstock, Nick Vass Bloodstock, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd & Aristia Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd

Sales Information

3rd 10. CAFE MILLENIUM (AUS) 3yo C
NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS) - VELOCE FORTE (AUS)
TOM MARQUAND
JOHN O'SHEA
$71
56.5kg
Planette Thoroughbred Trading Pty Ltd (Mgr: J S Leaver) & Finemore Thoroughbreds (Mgr: R S Finemore)
4th 2. TOM KITTEN (AUS) 3yo C
HARRY ANGEL (IRE) - TRANSFERS (AUS)
NASH RAWILLER
JAMES CUMMINGS
$7
56.5kg
5th 4. ENCAP (AUS) 3yo G
CAPITALIST (AUS) - ENQUARE (AUS)
JASON COLLETT
GARY PORTELLI
$12
56.5kg

Sales Information

6th 9. CEOLWULF (NZ) 3yo C
TAVISTOCK (NZ) - LAS BRISAS (GB)
SAM CLIPPERTON
JOSEPH PRIDE
$20
56.5kg

Sales Information

7th 8. DUCASSE (AUS) 3yo C
TRAPEZE ARTIST (AUS) - CUSTARD (AUS)
TYLER SCHILLER
MICHAEL FREEDMAN
$51
56.5kg

Sales Information

8th 6. LES VAMPIRES (AUS) 3yo C
PIERRO (AUS) - MUSIDORA (AUS)
ADAM HYERONIMUS
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$19
56.5kg

Sales Information

9th 5. GANBARE (AUS) 3yo C
MAURICE (JPN) - MARDI (AUS)
TIM CLARK
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$26
56.5kg

Sales Information

10th 11. COSMIC LAD (AUS) 3yo G
ADELAIDE (IRE) - HALIMEDE (AUS)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
EDWARD CUMMINGS
$151
56.5kg
11th 7. FUKUBANA (AUS) 3yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - SEKIYAMA (AUS)
TOMMY BERRY
MATTHEW DUNN
$31
56.5kg

Sales Information

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