Kerrin McEvoy has given Classique Legend his tick of approval after making the trek to Newcastle to partner The Everest contender in a barrier trial.
Trainer Les Bridge was keen to give the horse a hitout on a good surface so he sent him to Broadmeadow for Wednesday’s 800m heat on the course proper.
Classique Legend jumped cleanly and went forward from a wide draw, joining the leader around the corner and bounding clear to score by 2-1/4 lengths over Tactical Advantage.
McEvoy said the horse would take good improvement from the exercise and was on track for his resumption in the Group Two The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 19.
“It was good to get back on him in a trial format. I’ve been riding him a fair bit but it was nice to tick the box and have a nice hitout this morning,” McEvoy said.
“He’s had a nice little blow so there is going to be improvement to come, which is what you want to see.
“He definitely feels like he has furnished a bit more as an older horse this spring.”
Classique Legend was a luckless sixth in The Everest last year and was spelled after finishing unplaced in the Golden Eagle in November.
Plans to continue his racing career in Hong Kong were shelved due to the coronavirus pandemic and he found his way back to Bridge, who kept him ticking over with a hit-and-run raid on the Listed Bob Charley Stakes during the winter.
He is one of three horses confirmed for a slot in The Everest, along with favourite Nature Strip and South Australian sprinter Gytrash.
Stakes winner Miss Fabulass was also in action at Newcastle posting a commanding win in her trial, while unbeaten three-year-old The Bopper looks to have returned in top order, cruising to victory in his heat.