Proisir Filly Legarto Wins G1 NZ 1000 Guineas

Media Release - Monday November 14

There was drama aplenty around Legarto’s triumph in Monday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Monday – all of it before the field jumped.

Legarto winning the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Monday. Photo: Race Images South

A hot $1.35 favourite for the three-year-old fillies’ Classic at Riccarton, Legarto proved difficult to load into the starting gates, and she gave her connections and backers an almighty scare when her bridle broke.

The other runners were backed out of the gates as Legarto’s bridle was replaced, but she was still reluctant to take her place when the runners were loaded a second time and was a little fractious once she was in the gate prior to the field being sent on their way.

Advertisement

However, everything went smoothly for both Legarto and jockey Ryan Elliot during the race itself. After settling back, she improved rounding the far turn and unleashed a devastating turn of foot 300m from the line, scoring by 4-3/4 lengths from Best Seller, with Blue Solitaire the best of the trio saddled by Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong in third place.

“I aged about 10 years with the drama at the start,” Legarto’s co-trainer Ken Kelso said.

“It’s a big relief, and I don’t want to go through that again. I’m glad it’s all over.”

It was payback of sorts for Kelso, who trains with his wife Bev at Matamata, after some unfortunate defeats in the race, most notably with Bounding, who was beaten into second as an odds-on favourite in 2013 after being caught three wide for the journey.

He said the only unfortunate thing about the victory was that Bev wasn’t able to make the journey to Christchurch to watch the race due to her health.

“It’s a huge result, it’s just a pity she’s not here to witness it,” Kelso said. “We’ve been a team for a long time, we’ve been training together for 40-odd years, but I’m sure she got a hell of a lot of excitement and relief, like I did, after that.”

A $90,000 purchase for Phillip Brown of Ancroft Stud from Book 2 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka in 2021, Legarto is raced by many of the same connections as the multiple Group 1-winning mare Levante, including former Waikato Racing Club chief executive Tony Enting.

“We didn’t need all the nerve-wracking experience beforehand. She generally is a very placid sort of horse and we weren’t expecting that,” Enting said after the 1000 Guineas.

“The nerves were getting worse and worse all the time, but she did the job.

“We made a point of never comparing Legarto with Levante, because Levante’s up there still, but this girl’s catching up. We’re just thrilled.”

Elliot said the pre-race drama was something he didn’t need on such a short-priced favourite but that the race itself was drama-free by comparison.

“We got a really nice possie from the gate. I just elected to slot three wide, just to get to the better ground as well, and when Best Seller came out to meet me, to get a bit of cover on the back of her, especially with that head-on wind in the straight.

“She was just absolutely trotting and sensational. She’s something else, isn’t she?”

Kelso said Legarto is now likely to have a short break before being aimed at the Karaka Million Three-Year-Old Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on January 21.

Bred by Bay of Plenty farmer Warwick Jeffries, Legarto is out of Towkay mare Geordie Girl.

Proisir stands at Rich Hill Stud

The 1000 Guineas win added to a spectacular start to the 2022-23 season for her sire Proisir, who stands at Rich Hill Stud near Matamata for $17,500 plus GST. Her victory meant that both New Zealand’s Classic mile races fell to progeny of Proisir, following Pier’s triumph in last week’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

With three of the first five Group 1 races of the season having gone to progeny of Proisir – Dark Destroyer having also become a new winner at the top level this season when taking out the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) – it’s no surprise that Proisir has a commanding lead in the Grosvenor Award table for leading New Zealand sire.

Proisir will be represented by four individuals at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of two-year-olds at Karaka on 16 & 17 November. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Barneswood 50th N.Z 1000 Gneas Gr1 1600m

Riccarton Park Track: Dead(5) Time: 1:37.67
1
Legarto
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Geordie Girl (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
2
4.8
Best Seller
- 3f Wrote (IRE) x Star Amazing (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: S C Spratt 56.5
3
7.1
Blue Solitaire
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Princess Sapphire (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S Kennedy & A Furlong Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56.5
4
8.6
Romancing The Moon
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano (NZ))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
5
10.9
O'Riordan
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Shamrox (NZ) (Pyrus (USA))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: L J Allpress 56.5
6
11.7
Kikimora
- 3f Shamexpress (NZ) x Suzie Kaye (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S Kennedy & A Furlong Rdr: K Chowdhoory 56.5
7
11.8
One Kiss
- 3f Tivaci (AUS) x Discreet Evening (USA) (Discreet Cat (USA))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56.5
8
16.8
Perfectly Suited
- 3f Savile Row (NZ) x Muscat Hills (NZ) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: S Kennedy & A Furlong Rdr: S L Wynne 56.5
9
17.0
Kindred Spirit
- 3f El Doute (AUS) x Our Mona Lisa (AUS) (Desert Prince (IRE))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: D I Montes De Oca 56.5
More Reading...
Debut 2YO Winner for Brutal
Fresh from siring a smart metro winner at Sandown on Wednesday in Brutalina, Brutal was in the frame at Scone on Friday where Brett Cavanough unleashed a promising two year-old debut winner in Bird Whistle.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
Progressive Mare Bred on Magic Cross
The magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that has produced champion mare Via Sistina (IRE) was in the frame overnight in Ireland where six year-old mare Goodie Two Shoes scored a career best win in the Group III Stanerra Stakes (1m6f) at Fairyhouse.
Bloodstockauction 2025 Stallion Cover Charity Auction
Bloodstockauction Stallion Cover Charity Auction is on again this year seeking to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney.
Two powerful additions announced for Equate 2025
The countdown to Equate '25 just got even more exciting. Australasia's number one innovation event for the thoroughbred industry has announced two brand-new sessions that bring together transparency, technology, and tangible takeaways for all attendees.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 11
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Godolphin Draft Headlines Huge Inglis Digital July (Early)
A 26-strong Godolphin draft, a G1 placed 3YO with credentials for the $10m Golden Eagle and shares in multiple other G1 performers including dual G1 winner Overpass headline a huge catalogue for the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale.
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.