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Bridge produces Guineas special to join elite company

3 minute read

Celestial Legend is Doncaster Mile-bound after a courageous win in the Randwick Guineas.

Trainer : LES J BRIDGE.
Trainer : LES J BRIDGE. Picture: Racing and Sports

Octogenarian Les Bridge has become the oldest trainer since Bart Cummings to win a Group 1 feature at Randwick, and he has done it in the same race.

The Cups King was 87 when he claimed the 2015 Randwick Guineas with Hallowed Crown, who he trained in partnership with grandson James.

Bridge, who turns 86 in July, was on track to watch as Celestial Legend edged out Militarize and Café Millenium in a thrilling finish to Saturday's renewal and took a moment to reflect on his distinguished career, which has included a Golden Slipper with Sir Dapper, a Melbourne Cup with Kensei and an Everest with Classique Legend.

"I've been training for sixty years and like all trainers I've had my ups and downs. A lot of downs," Bridge said.

"But every time I'm down, I come up with a good horse. I think I've been blessed in some way."

In Celestial Legend, Bridge believes he has his best horse yet.

While loathe to compare stars of different eras, he said the three-year-old's effort to sit three-wide for most of Saturday's Randwick Guineas (1600m) and still pull out all stops at the finish was special.

"He never got on the track. It was amazing," Bridge said.

"I think he's the best horse I've had and I've thought so for a while, but I've been frightened to even admit it to myself.

"If he pulls up well, I'll run him in the Doncaster."

In a thrilling finish, Kerrin Mcevoy got everything out of Celestial Legend ($3.60) to lift him to victory by a head over Militarize ($2.20 fav) with Café Millenium ($71) the same margin away third.

Only 1-1/2 lengths separated the first eight horses across the line.

While McEvoy and Bridge combined to win the 2020 Everest with Classique Legend, the Randwick Guineas was their first official Group 1 together.

McEvoy said it was a special one to deliver to both Bridge and prominent owner Bon Ho and revealed he received a little extra pre-race inspiration from his son Charlie.

"It's bloody enjoyable," McEvoy said.

"My young fella Charlie is in there 'valeting' for me, and he gave me a pep talk before the race - he said 'c'mon Dad, it's about time for a Group One'.

"It's nice to have him here and be involved and it's great to get another big race. "

As for Bridge, he is renowned for being a man of few words but he says that is as it should be.

"I've found that talk's cheap in this business, it's doing it out on the track that's important," Bridge said.

And Celestial Legend did it out on the track for the Hall Of Fame trainer on Saturday.


Racing and Sports

Randwick

Saturday, 09th March 2024

8
16:35
(local)

THE AGENCY RANDWICK GUINEAS (G1)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
AUD $1,007,000
1600m TURF GOOD
8
16:35
(local)
AUD $1,007,000
1600m GOOD

THE AGENCY RANDWICK GUINEAS (G1)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 3. CELESTIAL LEGEND (AUS) 3yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - SARRAQA (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
L J BRIDGE
$3.5
56.5kg
Legend Racing (Mgr: K K Ho)

Sales Information

2nd 1. MILITARIZE (NZ) 3yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - AMERINDIA (GB)
JAMES MCDONALD
CHRIS WALLER
$2.2
56.5kg
Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Trilogy, Newgate S F, Horse Ventures, Go Bloodstock Australia, Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Carpe Diem, Aston Bloodstock, Nick Vass Bloodstock, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd & Aristia Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd

Sales Information

3rd 10. CAFE MILLENIUM (AUS) 3yo C
NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS) - VELOCE FORTE (AUS)
TOM MARQUAND
JOHN O'SHEA
$71
56.5kg
Planette Thoroughbred Trading Pty Ltd (Mgr: J S Leaver) & Finemore Thoroughbreds (Mgr: R S Finemore)
4th 2. TOM KITTEN (AUS) 3yo C
HARRY ANGEL (IRE) - TRANSFERS (AUS)
NASH RAWILLER
JAMES CUMMINGS
$7
56.5kg
5th 4. ENCAP (AUS) 3yo G
CAPITALIST (AUS) - ENQUARE (AUS)
JASON COLLETT
GARY PORTELLI
$12
56.5kg

Sales Information

6th 9. CEOLWULF (NZ) 3yo C
TAVISTOCK (NZ) - LAS BRISAS (GB)
SAM CLIPPERTON
JOSEPH PRIDE
$20
56.5kg

Sales Information

7th 8. DUCASSE (AUS) 3yo C
TRAPEZE ARTIST (AUS) - CUSTARD (AUS)
TYLER SCHILLER
MICHAEL FREEDMAN
$51
56.5kg

Sales Information

8th 6. LES VAMPIRES (AUS) 3yo C
PIERRO (AUS) - MUSIDORA (AUS)
ADAM HYERONIMUS
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$19
56.5kg

Sales Information

9th 5. GANBARE (AUS) 3yo C
MAURICE (JPN) - MARDI (AUS)
TIM CLARK
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$26
56.5kg

Sales Information

10th 11. COSMIC LAD (AUS) 3yo G
ADELAIDE (IRE) - HALIMEDE (AUS)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
EDWARD CUMMINGS
$151
56.5kg
11th 7. FUKUBANA (AUS) 3yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - SEKIYAMA (AUS)
TOMMY BERRY
MATTHEW DUNN
$31
56.5kg

Sales Information

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