Spring Racing Contenders: Classique Legend firms for The Everest

Classique Legend
A strong win in The Shorts has seen Classique Legend plunge in the betting for The Everest.

Two Group 1 races were run and won on Saturday, and while the favourite won in Melbourne, it was a boilover in the George Main Stakes at Randwick. We saw Dame Giselle fend off Hungry Heart once again in the Tea Rose, while a new Kosciuszko favourite emerged in Sydney and a new Caulfield Cup chance came through at Caulfield. We take a look back at the highs and lows of the weekend and single out some horses to follow in the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival.

Big day for Waller in George Main Stakes at Randwick

Chris Waller had four runners in the George Main Stakes, and they crossed the line together to fill the first four numbers in nearly reverse market order. Short-priced favourite Verry Elleegant was an unlucky fourth but didn’t let down with her normal turn of foot to make an impact. It was Kolding, however, who returned to the winner’s stall for the first time since he won last year’s Epsom/Golden Eagle double. Star Of The Seas was luckless once again and flashed into second.

Dame Giselle made it three in a row with another brilliant win in the third leg of the Darley Princess Series. After being well supported prior to the jump, Tommy Berry got her into the one-one and cruised into the race. Runner-up Hungry Heart was locked up inside Thermosphere and failed to find clear air at a vital stage, but he was still good in defeat. Miraville turned for home last and flashed home to run sixth under 5.5L back, which has seen her price plummet in Spring Champion Stakes betting.

Classique Legend firmed big-time in TAB Everest betting markets with an impressive victory in The Shorts. The big grey gelding got held up a fraction in the straight, but it was game over once when dual Everest-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy pulled him to the middle of the track. Dirty Work arguably should have finished second and could find himself with an Everest slot, but Classique Legend is the one to follow given the way he levelled out late when still underdone and first up.

It’s Me is now The Kosciuszko favourite after a devastating win in the TAB Highway. The mare is now undefeated from three starts and has crashed into $3 favouritism for next month’s country racing feature. The Brett Cavanough-trained daughter of Shamus Award was third last as they swung into the home straight and quickly put paid to her rivals, going on to win by 3L. While the times and sectionals suggest she is very smart, she does need to do it against some quality opposition including Man Of Peace, Two Big Fari and Redouble.

Behemoth wins another Group 1 at Caulfield

Behemoth made it back-to-back Group 1 wins by completing the Memsie Stakes/Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes double. The South Australian visitor had to lug 60kg but was still too strong for his rivals. Dollar For Dollar made a race of it at big odds, shooting for home at the 200m, but wasn’t strong enough to hold out the eventual winner. Pretty Brazen worked home into third, while Reykjavík and Superstorm were eye-catchers from the back of the pack. The sole three-year-old in the field, Tagaloa, was three wide throughout without cover and wasn’t beaten very far at all.

A spot in the Caulfield Cup was up for grabs in the MRC Foundation Cup, where market elect Orderofthegarter jumped into outright favouritism for the October 17 feature. He was gifted the run of the race under Damien Oliver, which was crucial in the end as he was too strong for Steel Prince and Chapada. It was a good win, but to be installed as the $8 favourite for such a strong race is ridiculous in our opinion. At the end of the day, he has only beaten B-graders at best and doesn’t boast the greatest of European form. His 1kg penalty for the Caulfield Cup takes his weight to 51kg, which will see him competitive, but we cannot recommend backing him at this price.

In terms of feature races coming up, there wasn’t a great deal from Saturday’s meetings that we want to dive into just yet. While there were plenty of smart horses around the traps, we aren’t convinced that we saw many Group 1 winners come out of the day. Weight For Age Performance Ratings analyst Daniel O’Sullivan tweeted the five highest-rated winners from Saturday’s racing, with Classique Legend topping the list. We think he will be perfectly suited in The Everest, sitting off a hot speed and unleashing late.

Best bets for 2020 Spring Carnival

Epsom Handicap (Oct 3)Star Of The Seas @ $9
The Everest (Oct 17)Classique Legend @ $6

Horses to add to your black book

  • Classique Legend
  • Miraville
  • Reykjavík
  • Superstorm
  • Star Of The Seas
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