CLASSIQUE LEGEND JOINS PIERATA FOR EVEREST
CLASSIQUE Legend, the boom Sydney three-yearold, is the second sprinter to secure a start in the
$14 million The Everest later this year.
The Les Bridge-trained Classique Legend joins Pierata in the field for the world’s richest turf race, run at Royal Randwick on October 19.
The Classique Legend deal broke new ground because he is the first horse into The Everest after a slotholder sale.
Greg Ingham’s GPI Racing sold its slot, for this year’s race only, to Classique Legend’s owner Bon Ho and his racing and bloodstock manager Carmel Size for an undisclosed sum.
The slot sale attracted global interest and it is rumoured the deal was struck for considerably more than the $600,000 needed to initially buy an Everest slot.
“The decision to aim Classique Legend at The Everest later this year should be seen as a vote of confidence in the Australian racing industry, with special acknowledgment to Racing NSW, who have developed the initiative,’’ Size said.
“Mr Bon Ho is a devotee of racing and as much as he would love to see his horse winning in Hong Kong, he is relishing the challenge of tackling the best in The Everest.
“It is even more satisfying to have purchased the GPI slot from Inglis, as that is where Classique Legend was purchased.
“Les Bridge is particularly excited at the news and while we acknowledge Classique Legend will need to go to the next level, we have every faith in his ability, which Les believes is still untapped.’’