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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Les Bridge is happy to keep the steps on the small side for now with promising filly Scintilla as she chases a hat-trick at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Scintilla carries the same colours as some of Bridge’s outstanding mares like Hot Danish and Miss Zoe and he said he can only hope she reaches similar heights.

Bridge threw in a nomination for the Group 1 Surround Stakes with Scintilla but that’s more a sign he thinks she will be stakes class in time and not an immediate target.

Trainer Les Bridge (Pic: Bradley Photos)

“I’m hoping she will be, she’s a lovely filly and she hasn’t done anything wrong up to date,’’ Bridge said.

“She’s a horse I like and this race will tell the story. I’ve had a lot of good fillies and she’s going the right way.”

The three-year-old, $3.70 with TAB on Tuesday in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m), has been impressive winning successive races over 1250m at Canterbury.

Braith Nock is unbeaten in two rides on Scintilla and with his claim she’ll carry 56kg, a rise of 3kg on her January 31 win, but Bridge is typically bullish about her chances.

“Up to date she’s going well, it’s 1400m on Wednesday and I think she’ll win,’’ he said.

“With the allowance she comes in well so she should be hard to beat.

“She’s a big rangy filly and I think she will run a mile too. She hasn’t gone backwards, she looks good.”

Nock is also two from two on Smart Legend for Bridge and the five-year-old gelding stretches out in distance in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (2140m).

Smart Legend’s two recent wins have come over 1900m at Canterbury, split by second in a 1600m Midway at Randwick, and Bridge expects him to handle the distance test.

“He’s a good, honest, horse. He’s tough and rock hard fit,’’ he said.

“I don’t think the distance will worry him, and I’ve been wanting to get him out to that sort of distance.

“He comes in well with the allowance and I think Warwick Farm will suit him.

“He’ll jump out and be in the first three all the way, he’ll hit the front in the straight somewhere and it’s just a matter of seeing it out.”

Meanwhile, Bridge’s dual Group 1 winner Celestial Legend will have his second trial back next Monday as he builds up for an autumn return.

The grey won both the Randwick Guineas and Doncaster Mile but didn’t fire in three runs in the spring.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting