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By Ray Hickson

There’s no way jockey Kerrin McEvoy is putting any expectation on 2020 Everest champ Classique Legend to post a first-up win at Royal Randwick on Saturday but he’d like to leave the course knowing the star grey is in the game for the 2022 edition.

Classique Legend and Kerrin McEvoy (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It’s amazing to think Classique Legend has only raced twice since he won his Everest two years ago but he had the failed relocation to Hong Kong and suffered a well-documented injury in his gutsy fifth in last year’s TAB Everest.

His trainer Les Bridge has been upfront about where he believes the seven-year-old is fitness wide going into the Group 2 $1 million Bowermans Shorts (1100m) and McEvoy said that means expecting him to win first-up is an ask.

“You’ve got to be realistic, he’s stepping out against the top drawer sprinters and a competitive run from Classique Legend would be a pleasing result,’’ McEvoy said.

“It’s exciting to have him back. He’s going to need the run but he’s out there to start his campaign and he’s been pleasing us in his work.”

Former jockey turned trainer Peter Robl rides the gelding in most of his trackwork and McEvoy said his advice was invaluable in the lead up to Classique Legend’s barrier trial appearance earlier this month.

He said the horse has shown plenty of enthusiasm for his work and that’s a good sign we could see the Classique Legend of two years ago when Everest day arrives.

“It’s been a slow burn to get him to this point,’’ McEvoy said.

“He was good the other day in heavy conditions and he’s come out of the trial well. He hasn’t been fully screwed down yet by Les and Saturday is a good stepping stone.”

McEvoy, who has won three of the five Everests to date, admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect when Classique Legend lined up in his Canterbury trial on September 1.

And though he did run out of condition late in the 900m gallop he was pleasantly surprised as he finished third behind Overpass and Nature Strip, both of which oppose him in the Shorts - a race he won in 2020 on his way to Everest glory.

“Because I hadn’t been on him as much as I had the previous prep and the preparation he won the Everest I was going in unsure of what we’d see,’’ he said.

“But his action was good and he just blew out the last little bit.

“A couple of lengths off Nature Strip when you’re just starting your campaign is not a bad starting point but we’ll be a lot wiser after (Saturday’s) event."

The market for the Shorts is expecting Classique Legend to need the run, he was $15 with TAB on Thursday, but respect for his talent has him at $11 in TAB Everest betting.

With half the Everest field clashing on Saturday plenty is going to be learned about what might happen in one month and McEvoy said it’s a perfect way to kick off Everest Carnival.

“There’s not an abundance of lead up races so it’s always a strong possibility this would happen but I think it’s great and it just adds to the theatre,’’ he said.

It's expected Classique Legend will contest the Group 2 $1 million Premiere Stakes (1200m) in two weeks before it's confirmed he'll take owner Bon Ho's slot in the Everest.

Classique Legend runs third in a Canterbury trial on September 1

Hinged is McEvoy’s ride in the Group 1 $1 million Fujitsu General George Main Stakes (1600m) as he chases his third win in the feature mile.

He was successful in 2001 on star three-year-old Viscount and 2019 on Godolphin import Avilius.

The Chris Waller-trained mare, $18 with TAB, drew the outside alley when she ran fifth behind Anamoe in the Winx Stakes (1400m) a month ago and has had a tickover trial since.

“It was a good run the other day and she’s run at a really high level at a mile at Randwick so I think she is a nice chance from a soft draw,’’ McEvoy said.

“Nash (Rawiller) gave her a good ride the other day and got her into a nice spot and she was a little bit outpaced on the corner but strong late so the extra furlong is going to help her.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting