When Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt-Pinocchio) stormed home to win the Gr 2 The Shorts a few weeks back, an emotional Les Bridge said, “he’s even better than Sir Dapper.”
The comment shocked everyone who could recall the deeds of the great Sir Dapper. And pretty much everyone, bar Carmel Size who bought Classique Legend as a yearling and who pretty much lives with him, put it down to an in the moment comment.
So they dismissed it. Some even thought old Les had lost his marbles.
But then the $15million The Everest was run, and well, old Les may well have got it right.
“It’s in the genes,” said Bridge. “I was very good friends with Percy Sykes and he told me good horses are made from their genes and just look at this bloke.
“He is perfectly put together. Look at his girth. It is unbelievable and he has been a star from the moment I galloped him.”
There was no mention of his Gr 1 Golden Slipper winning Champion juvenile Sir Dapper today.
It was all about Classique Legend, with Bridge saying he means the world to him.
“But, Hot Danish is the one horse who meant the most to me because she was winning races while my wife was suffering terribly from cancer.
“And every time she won, she picked her spirits up so no horse will replace her in my heart.
“But this horse today – he is very, very special.”
Bridge said there was still a chance Classique Legend could go on to race in Hong Kong. His owner is based there and has always wanted him to be there.
“We had to kidnap him the last time he was booked to fly there. We may have to again,” smiled the wily old trainer.
“But we will all sit down and talk it over.”
In winning this year’s The Everest, running a tick over 1.08 on a track that wasn’t super fast, Classique Legend took his record to 12 starts, 6 wins and 4 placings.
He has earned $8,635,500 in stakes.
