Celestial Legend Romps in Hobartville Stakes - Half-Brother Inglis Easter

Mark Smith - Saturday February 24

 After winning the 1984 Hobartville Stakes with the champion Sir Dapper, Les Bridge added a second win in the Group II feature at Rosehill forty years later with the Dundeel colt Celestial Legend.

Celestial Legend puts a space in them (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Celestial Legend was a menacing presence on the turn behind Encap.

The son of Dundeel wore down the son of Capitalist to win by a widening two lengths with the Pierro colt Les Vampires a length back in third.

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With his first stakes win, Celestial Legend advances his record to two wins and two seconds from six starts with earnings of $364,575.

Carrying the colours of Bon Ho, Celestial Legend was a $220,000 purchase for Legend Racing / Avenue Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Les Bridge will have his next start in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas in a fortnight.

“He’s a good horse and he’ll be three or four lengths better in six months,” Bridge said.

Deep down, I felt the same as I felt with (Everest winner) Classique Legend,  this bloke is nearly as good.

“I think he (Bon Ho) made up his mind to come and I’m glad he did because I got twice as much pleasure out of him being here.

“I don’t have to do it (train) these days, I just do it because I’m terrified of having nothing to do. Mr Ho has been absolutely marvellous to me and I just hope this repays him a little bit. He didn’t see much of Classique Legend and it was a tragedy that he broke down, but he’s got a good replacement with this one.”

The grey colt is the first foal of the unraced Snitzel mare Sarraqa, a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winners in South Africa, Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) and Mustaaqeem (Redoute’s Choice).

Sarraqa’s dam National Colour (National Assembly) was a 3-time Group 1 winner in South Africa. She was honoured as the Joint South African Horse of the Year in 2005-06 - Champion Older Female Sprinter in GB in 2007-08 - Joint Champion 3YO Filly in South Africa in 2005-06.

Celestial Legend a $220,00 Inglis Classic yearling

Mike de Kock trained National Colour, and it was his son, Mathew de Kock, now training with Robbie Griffiths, who shelled out $160,000 for Sarraqa’s Written Tycoon filly consigned by Noorilim Park to the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Arrowfield Stud consigns a Maurice (JPN) half-brother to Celestial Legend to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

After missing to Castelvecchio in 2022, Sarraqa was covered by Dundeel last spring.

Celestial Legend is the 26th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel.

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Race Result - Precise Air Hobartville Stakes Gr2 1400m

Rosehill Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:23.69
1
Celestial Legend
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Sarraqa (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: L J Bridge Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56.5
2
1.9
Encap
- 3g Capitalist (AUS) x Enquare (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Newhaven Park, Boorowa
Buyer: Passed in - $ 200,000
3
2.8
Les Vampires
- 3c Pierro (AUS) x Musidora (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: J Parr 56.5
Pierro
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $200,000
Seller: Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains
Buyer: Curran Bloodstock
4
3.3
Fukubana
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Sekiyama (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
5
3.5
Tom Kitten
- 3c Harry Angel (IRE) x Transfers (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
6
3.8
Ceolwulf
- 3c Tavistock (NZ) x Las Brisas (GB) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 56.5
7
4.5
Ganbare
- 3c Maurice (JPN) x Mardi (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
8
5.8
Ducasse
- 3c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Custard (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
9
5.9
Cafe Millenium
- 3c Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Veloce Forte (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56.5
10
7.3
Flying Trapeze
- 3c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Coromandel (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 56.5
11
7.4
Heman
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Nayeli (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
12
7.5
Raf Attack
- 3c Satono Aladdin (JPN) x Sima (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56.5
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