Celestial Legend Powers to Victory in Group 1 Doncaster Mile

Mark Smith - Saturday April 6

With 200 metres to run in Saturday’s $4,000,000 The Star Doncaster Mile at Randwick, there were a dozen horses still capable of winning, then Tyler Schiller lowered the boom on Celestial Legend.

Here comes the grey (image Steve Hart)

Trained by octagenarian Les Bridge, the 3-year-son of Dundeel scythed between runners from near the tail of the field to defeat Godolphin’s Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles by three-quarters of a length with a short-half-hed back to another 3-year-old son of Dundeel, Militarize, in third.

Coming off wins in the Group II Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill and the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, the Bon Ho colourbearer advances his record to four wins and two seconds from eight starts with earnings of $3,390,825.

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“He’s some horse. I’ve had a lot of good horses, but this horse is unbelievable,” Bridge said

“I just love the horse. I felt the same as I did on Everest day (when Classique Legend won).

“You get horses like this, I thought I’d get one in my lifetime, I keep getting them. I can’t work it out.

“I just didn’t think he could win, that’s all, but he just got out and he’s just unbelievable.

“What more can he do? For three-year-olds in this era, to win a Doncaster when they’ve got the compressed weights and all these good horses are so close to him in the weights was the only thing that made me worry a bit.

“I’m old-fashioned. You get these good, tough horses with the compressed weights, but this horse is just terrific.”

 “I knew he hadn’t gone backwards. I didn’t want to give him another hard run because he had a terribly hard run in that mile, so I just gave him a nice tick-over trial.”

Tyler Schiller admitted it was a battle to get down to 49kgs.

“It’s so worth it, I’m absolutely knackered after it, but I can’t thank Les and Mr Ho, the owners and connections, everyone that’s had something to do with the horse (enough), they’ve got him here perfect, I’ve got the light weight and, God, he was so brave,” Schiller said.

“He went through a gap that I wouldn’t usually take, but a Doncaster means a lot and to do it for Les and his team is terrific.

Les Bridge and Bon Ho embrace (image Steve Hart)

“Early I was a bit worried, he couldn’t get into a spot. I would have liked to be a little bit further forward, but once the 800 came he tracked into the race so well and then it was just trying to find a gap.”

The win is welcome news for Arrowfield Stud, which consigns a Maurice (JPN) half-brother to Celestial Legend on the second day of the Inglis Australian Yearling Sale.

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

Celestial Legend a $220,000 Inglis Classic yearling

The grey son of Dundeel 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.

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.

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

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Race Result - The Star Doncaster Mile Gr1 1600m

Randwick Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:35.27
1
Celestial Legend
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Sarraqa (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: L J Bridge Rdr: Tyler Schiller 49
2
0.7
Pericles
- 4g Street Boss (USA) x Accessories (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Shinn 54.5
3
0.8
Militarize
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Amerindia (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Z Purton 54
4
0.8
Nugget
- 7g Siyouni (FR) x Gemstone (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Declan Bates 51.5
5
1.9
Hinged
- 5m Worthy Cause (AUS) x Tints (AUS) (Tycoon Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 51
6
2.1
Detonator Jack
- 5g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Red Delicious (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Tim Clark 52.5
7
2.4
Another Wil
- 4g Street Boss (USA) x Arohanui (AUS) (Bianconi (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Jamie Kah 50
8
2.7
Democracy Manifest
- 5g Flying Artie (AUS) x Slippery Satin (AUS) (Benicio (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 51
9
2.8
Kovalica
- 4g Ocean Park (NZ) x Vitesse (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 53.5
10
2.9
Rustic Steel
- 6g Deep Field (AUS) x Ten Carat Rock (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Regan Bayliss 52.5
11
3.2
Think About It
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Tiare (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 57
12
3.3
Loch Eagle
- 5g Lonhro (AUS) x Song Street (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 52
13
3.4
Obamburumai
- 4h Discreet Cat (USA) x Pink Gerbera (JPN) (Deep Impact (JPN))
Tnr: K Yoshimura Rdr: Damian Lane 55
14
3.8
Berkshire Shadow
- 5g Dark Angel (IRE) x Angel Vision (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: A Adkins 52.5
15
3.9
Lindermann
- 4g Lonhro (AUS) x Self Esteem (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Lloyd 50.5
16
3.9
Palmetto
- 5g Ghibellines (AUS) x Carolina Island (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Molly Bourke 51
17
8.8
Navajo Peak
- 5g Territories (IRE) x Ship Rock (AUS) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Rachel King 52.5
18
11.3
Lady Laguna
- 4m Overshare (AUS) x Catalina De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: M J Dee 51
19
15.5
Phearson
- 6g Exosphere (AUS) x Chateau D'yquem (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Ron Stewart 51
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