Six well-related 3-year-olds contested the Toyota Forklifts Maiden Plate (1400m) at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday, resulting in a remarkable finish.
The lone debutant in the race, Charming Legend (Deep Field), was first to come off the bridle under Reece Jones as the favourite Jawharat Dubai dashed clear halfway down the straight and was hailed as the winner.
After looking the most likely candidate to finish last, Charming Legend began to rally when balanced up and blasted past Pride Of Dubai’s half-sister, Jawharat Dubai (Lonhro), to win by one and three-quarter lengths.
Fangirl’s half-brother Wipeout (Pariah) was the same distance back in third.
Trained by Les Bridge for Bon Ho, Charming Legend was the third-highest-priced lot at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when he was purchased out of the Newgate Farm draft for $550,000 by Legend Racing.
Reece Jones said he was thrilled to keep the ride on the son of Deep Field after riding him at two of his most recent barrier trials.
“He’s the best; I love him,” Jones gushed.
“I’ve ridden him in trackwork and trials and pleaded with Les to stick with him.”
Bred by S F Bloodstock and Hollymount Stud, Charming Legend is the third winner from as many to race for the stakes-winning O’Reilly mare Spellbinder, who placed in the Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas and Group II Sir Tristram Classic.
Michael Freedman Racing/ Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) shelled out $200,000 for a Tassort half-brother to Charming Legend consigned by Newgate Farm to the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He has been named Correon.
Sadly, Spellbinder died in 2022.
