The Les Bridge trained Classique Legend repaid his faithful followers with a dominant win in the 2019 Group 2 $1m Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) on Day Two of The Championships at Randwick today.
Classique Legend was a beaten short priced favourite last start on a heavy track in the Listed $140,000 Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23 but back on a better surface today the punters were happy to send the grey out as the favourite again.
Classique Legend was the solid $3.70 favourite and the punters started cheering a long way from home when Kerrin McEvoy eased him into the clear on the run down the rise.
The cheering continued as Classique Legend surged to a commanding one and a quarter lengths win under hands and heels riding from McEvoy.
Runner up Jonker ($41) was sent out as one of the outsiders of the field and after racing on the pace, tried hard in the straight with the Kiwi filly Avantage ($4.60) holding her spot for third.
Classique Legend has now won three of his four race starts with his only blemish being on the heavy track in the Darby Munro Stakes.
Classique Legend is raced by Hong Kong owner Mr K K Ho and Bridge will be fighting hard to keep the gelding racing in Australia.
“I’m going to lock him up in the stables so he can’t leave,” Bridge said.
“I haven’t scratched the surface with him yet. I’ve been lucky.”
McEvoy also belives that tere is plenty od imprpvement still to come from the Arrowfield 3yo Sprint winner.
“We’re still yet to work out what his best trip is. I think he would stay a little further. There are some good sprint races here like the Golden Eagle or those other good sprint races. We’ll keep working to try and keep him here a little longer,” McEvoy said.
“It is only for one year so it would be great to have him here for a bit longer. He has a great demeanour about him. He is a pleasure to ride and I knew with a drying track he was going to be able to produce a finish like that and that is what he was able to do.”