Classique Legend‘s impressive win on debut at Randwick has set him up for possible autumn carnival races before his likely transfer to Hong Kong.
The three-year-old is raced by Boniface Ho who also owns Southern Legend, originally trained by Les Bridge and a Group One placegetter in Hong Kong for Caspar Fownes.
Kerrin McEvoy went to Hawkesbury to ride Classique Legend in a barrier trial and was again aboard in Wednesday’s TAB Rewards 3YO Plate (1100m) on the Kensington track.
The striking grey raced outside the lead and took over in the straight to charge clear to beat Got Your Six by 2-1/2 lengths.
Ho’s bloodstock agent and racing manager Carmel Size said she hoped Classique Legend could win a good race over the autumn.
“We had to had to give him a little bit of time,” Size said.
“I’m very, very excited for him.
“With this horse we are going to keep him in Australia for the short term.
“We will try and season him up and he might himself in a nice race over the autumn.”
McEvoy was also impressed.
“He is a nice big horse who can stretch over a bit further,” he said.
“It was good to see him do that today. He is heading in the right direction and it’s exciting to see where he might end up.”
The autumn carnival is also the goal for the John Thompson-trained Almerheri who scored a decisive 3-3/4 length win in the 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m).
Almerheri has been entered for the Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 13 and Thompson will plan a path to the Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) a week earlier to test her staying credentials.
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