The trial was basically a Gr 1 race and it featured star gallopers CLASSIQUE LEGEND (Not A Single Doubt – Pinocchio), LOST AND RUNNING (Per Incanto – Dreamlife) and I AM SUPERMAN (Footstepsinthesand – Fastnet Lady), KOLDING (Ocean Park – Magic Star) as well as HUNGRY HEART (Frankel – Harlech) among others.
And the big grey won the 1000m dash in a fast trial time, a tick under 59sec.
But, with Hugh Bowman sitting as quiet as a field mouse on Lost And Running, he was a neck away at the end and he sat on the outside of Classique Legend all the way.
On face value, both ran outstandingly, but you’d have to say the rising star Lost And Running was slightly the more impressive.
I Am Superman, who led at a quick tempo, was a close-up 3rd. This was his first hit-out since being gelded and he looks a much better galloper as a result.
They came home the last 600m in a pleasing 34.39sec racing around the cones which were a long way off the fence so they all covered a fair bit of terrain.
Hungry Heart and Kolding were well back but weren’t asked to extend.
Last week, trainer Les Bridge was asked about rivals of Classique Legend as they all aim for the upcoming $15million The Everest, and he said, “well they will want to be good.”
His horse then came out today and won, albeit being asked to keep the hard gallop going down the running, by a comfortable enough margin.
This was his first bit of really fast work since arriving in Australia from a failed Hong Kong campaign. Which simply adds to the merit of his work.
He sat off the pace allowing I Am Superman to drag them all along with his younger boomed rival Lost And Running outside him.
As Kerrin McEvoy squeezed him through a gap he accelerated to the lead. Bowman spoke to Lost And Running and without any urgency at all from the rider he knew he had to quicken and he did.
In the end there was a neck between them on the line.
Bridge would have been pleased. John O’Shea who trains the other horse, would have been doing cart-wheels.
And both trainers remained in exactly the same mood when the next heat unfolded both running first and 2nd again with MADAM LEGEND (I Am Invincible – Mithilia) winning for Bridge over 1040m from a very fast finishing BLESK (Savabeel – Sparkling) for O’Shea.
Same jocks, but this time I think Madam Legend got the nod as the more impressive.
Both looked awesome, however.
Watch 📺👇 Defending Everest champ Classique Legend holds arch-rival at bay in first trial back
