Some of the all-time greats have their name on the ATC St Leger (2600m) trophy, and while it now fails to rate as a black-type race, this year’s edition boasts a $500,000 prize and a very likeable winner.
Making his Australian debut, the James Ferguson-trained 3-year-old Land Legend (FR) carried the Bon Ho silks to a course record-breaking win.
The confidently supported son of Galileo made a mid-race move under Tyler Schiller to make it a true staying contest.
Despite running in and hitting the rail halfway down the straight, Land Legend kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Cleveland (IRE) (Camelot) by two and three-quarter lengths with Kalapour (IRE) (War Command) a neck back in third.
Stable representative Katie Webb said Land legend would stay in Australia with Chris Waller.
“We couldn’t be any more delighted here today,” Webb said.
“Absolutely delighted for Mr Bon Ho. We have a strong connection with him and for this horse to come out here and win first time for us is just unbelievable really.
“He (Tyler Schiller) followed instructions down to a tee. James said to let the horse roll along, if they want to take a hold and slow it up, let him kick on and find his rhythm. He’s done just that, and he gave him a fantastic ride there for us.
“He goes to Chris Waller now, so what the plan is for him, we will let him decide.”
Tyler Schiller was equally impressed.
“He felt like a really nice horse. All credit to his team, James Ferguson; they’ve got the horse over here in great order and kept him up to the mark for this,” Schiller said.
“He said just don’t let him hold his momentum. He’s a building stayer and he’s definitely got a lot of class about him.
“At the 200m he got challenged, he wanted to do a couple of things wrong, wanting to lay in, but I thought he was very brave late, and in the end he was drawing away from them.”
A €100,000 purchase for Avenue Bloodstock from the Monceaux draft at the 2021 Arqana October Yearling Sale advanced his record to two wins and two seconds from nine starts.
The son of Galileo is out of the winning Dansili mare Landikusic, a sister to Group 1 Phoenix stakes winner and former shuttler Zoffany and a half-sister to Group II winner and multiple Group 1-placed Rostropovich (Frankel), and Group III winner Wilshire Boulevard (Holy Roman Emperor).
