Classique Legend In The Mix for The Everest

A heavy track at Rosehill for the Listed Darby Munro Stakes on March 23 brought an end to the winning run of Classique Legend but the grey son of Not A Single Doubt bounced back and did the right thing by the sponsor with a dominant performance in Saturday's $1million Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick.

Kerrin McEvoy gave the Les-Bridge-trained gelding a gun ride and always had the race in his keeping, hitting the line strongly to defeat Jonker (Spirit Of Boom), who also appreciated the better track, by one and a quarter lengths with Avantage (Fastnet Rock) a long-neck back in third. (images Steve Hart)

Winner of his first two starts before his third in the Darby Munro, Classique Legend advances his record to 3 wins and 1 second from 4 starts with earnings of $773,500.

"It all went wrong there last start at Rosehill but Les backed off him and gave him an easy ten days," McEvoy said.

"There was a fair of talk between going to this race or the South Pacific. I'm glad we chose this race. It was going to be a solid test and it's very pleasing to have him come out on top. He is a gelding with a huge future.

"It was a stellar line up. Les was as cautious as anyone all of the way through. The last couple of weeks however he's gotten bullish as well.

"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."

Les Bridge said the fact that interest had been shown by stakes holders in The Everest may be enough to keep Classique Legend in Australia before his likely move to Hong Kong.

"There have been feelers put out already about The Everest," Bridge said.

I'm going to lock him up in the stables so he can't leave.

"I haven't scratched the surface with him yet."

Consigned by Tyreel Stud, Classique Legend topped the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when he was knocked down to Carmel Size on behalf of Hong Kong-based Boniface Ho, for $400,000.

She is the second winner from as many foals out the royally-related Encosta de Lago mare Pinocchio, a winning sister to Champion Miler and five-time Group I winner Racing to Win and a half-sister to Group III winner Purrealist.

Purchased for $320,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Pinocchio had a yearling Sebring colt sell to George Moore Bloodstock for $575,000 at last year's Easter Yearling Sale.

She has a colt foal by So You Think and was covered by Capitalist last spring.

Classique Legend becomes the 64^th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud's Not A Single Doubt whose 15 yearlings to sell at the recent Easter Yearling Sale averaged $528,333.