Epsom Derby Contender for Bon Ho

Tara Madgwick - Thursday April 20

There were two key stakes races for new season three year-olds at Newmarket in the UK overnight and the colours of well known Hong Kong owner Bon Ho were in the frame in the Listed Feilden Stakes (1m1f) won by Canberra Legend.

A three year-old colt by Epsom Derby winner Australia, Canberra Legend won his debut over a mile in February and was having just his second start.

Advertisement

Well prepared by James Ferguson, Canberra Legend stepped up successfully in distance and class to score a strong half length win.

“We've got a lot of options ahead of us and it very exciting to have a horse of this calibre for his owner who has been with me since I started,” said James Ferguson.

“Canberra Legend is in both (Dante and Derby). I think we have to see how he comes out of the race and the Guineas is not that far away. He looks like he wants further, but I have to talk to the owner first.”

A 350,000 guinea purchase for Avenue Bloodstock from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, he was a successful pinhook having been bough as a weanling for 125,000 guineas.

He is a half-brother to Group III winner Youth Spirit and is the third winner from three to race from unraced Fastnet Rock mare Rocana, a half-sister to Group II winner Blaine and stakes-winners Byline and Bogart.

He is the 33rd stakes-winner for Australia and the is the 85th for Fastnet Rock as a broodmare sire, being bred on that super successful Galileo x Fastnet Rock nick.

The Group IIII Nell Gwyn Stakes (7f) was won by another up and comer with the Richard Hannon trained Mammas Girl taking the prize at 16-1.

A debut winner at Newmarket last October, she was having her second start and overcame a poor start to win by a dominant two and three-quarter lengths over the Godolphin owned Dubawi filly Fairy Cross.

“She is very straightforward, but she missed the gate today which I'm surprised at. I thought she would run very well today, but she has surprised me slightly with the way she has won," said Richard Hannon.

“All of my Guineas winners have been beaten in their trials. Sky Lantern, Night Of Thunder and Billesdon Brook. Hopefully she bucks the trend, but she will be coming back here for that race for sure.”

Mammas Girl was a bargain buy, just 35,000 pounds at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale and is a half-sister to stakes-winner Master of War and stakes-placed Life in Colour from terrific producer Mamma Morton, who has had 12 named foals that have all raced for 11 winners.

Mammas Girl is the seventh stakes-winner for Galileo line sire Havana Grey, whose oldest progeny are just three year-olds. He made a flying start last year to be the leading first crop sire by winners and earnings, a remarkable effort off a fee of 8,000 pounds.

Havana Grey is a young sire going places.

Havana Grey is producing some great stats runnign at nearly 7% SW to runner and stands at Whitsbury Manor at a fee of 18,500 pounds.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.