Third at his previous start behind Allaboutella at Newcastle, the Capitalist gelding Legolas turned the tables on the Trapeze Artist filly in the Black Opal Preview (1000m) at Canberra on Friday.
Ridden by Brock Ryan for Bjorn Baker, Legolas went straight to the front and was not for catching. Alysha Collett tracked Legolas on the favourite Allaboutella, who ran greenly in the straight and was safely held by a length.
The Sooboog debutant Snippety Star was three-quarter length back in third.
The first two earn tickets to the $250,000 Group III Black Opal Stakes on March 12 at Canberra Racecourse.
Legolas made his career debut in the Breeders’ Plate at Randwick last October, where he was eased out of the race when Rachel King felt he was awkward in his action.
The son of Capitalist appeared for the first time in nineteen weeks when third behind Allaboutella at Newcastle on February 11.
Darby Racing shelled out $140,000 for Legolas from the Valiant Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He is the first foal of the hard-knocking Elfee, a stakes-placed daughter of Iffraaj who won ten and placed in twelve of her 53 starts in New Zealand.
After foaling a Farnan filly last spring, Elfee was covered by Trapeze Artist.
