The Everest rivals Sunlight and Classique Legend faced off in a Randwick barrier trial this morning, finishing one, two at the end of the 1000m hit out on the course proper.
Sunlight, above. scored an all the way win in a 1000m Randwick barrier trial inpreparation for The Everest 2019. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Both sprinters hold a slot for the $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19 with the Tony McEvoy trained Sunlight to run for Max Whitby while Classique Legend from the Les Bridge stable will run for Bon Ho and Carmel Size Racing.
Luke Currie had Sunlight quickly out of the starting gates and took the speedy mare straight to the front under a tight hold and she was never headed to complete the 1000m in 59.23s on a soft 5 rated track.
Runner up Classique Legend was also quickly into stride and Kerrin McEvoy also had a major grip on the four year old until the final 100m when he was allowed the gelding to stretch out more freely to finish two and a quarter lengths behind Sunlight.
“First step out, looks to be a nice one,” Carmel Size tweeted.
Classique Legend has only been to the races on four occasions and connections believe that the Not A Single Doubt gelding has unlimited potential following his explosive win in the Group 2 $1m Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick Day Two of The Championships on April 13.
Today’s trial was Sunlight’s second for this preparation after winning a 900m Randwick trial on August 12 and she is due to start her Everest countdown in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 7.
“She looks like she is fully matured now,” stable representative Calvin McEvoy told The Everest News Desk.
“Every time she came back she looked better and better but now she looks like a proper racehorse.”
“If she takes the steps we think she will she has to be one of the top sprinters in the country.”
“Her attitude at the track is fantastic, she bowls out in the morning and struts her stuff. She knows she’s good and that’s a great quality to have.”
Sunlight had a stellar three year old season with a Group 1 treble split over the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival and the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
She beat her own age to win the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on day one of the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival and returned in the Autumn to beat the older sprinters under handicap conditions to win the Group 1 $1.25m Seppelt Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington and then made it back to back Group 1 wins with an all the way win in the weight for age Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Slots for the 2019 The Everest that have been allocated are Chris Waller Racing – Enticing Star, The Star – Arcadia Queen, Yulong Investments – Redzel, Max Whitby – Sunlight, TAB – Santa Ana Lane, Aquis – Pierata, Bon Ho & Carmel Size Racing – Classique Legend and Inglis – In Her Time.
In early betting for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au, Classique Legend is on the third line at $8 with Pierata behind multiple Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane at $5 and the James Cummings trained Osborne Bulls at $7 while Sunlight is marked at $9.
Pre-post betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Santa Ana Lane, $7 Osborne Bulls, $8 Pierata, Classique Legend, $9 Sunlight, $11 Libertini, $12 Arcadia Queen, Alizee, $13 In Her Time, Nature Strip, $14 Enticing Star, Redzel, $17 Graff, $21 Yes Yes Yes, $26 Zoustyle, $31 Cascadian, Hot King Prawn, Home Of The Brave, Mr Stunning, $41 or better the rest.
