Legarto winning the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m).  Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

Legarto set for Flemington return

LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
3 January 2024

A return to the scene of her biggest win is on the cards for multiple Group One winner Legarto.

The daughter of Proisir was a popular victor of last year’s Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso are keen to take their mare back to the Melbourne track this autumn, with the A$3 million Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) on March 30 in the crosshairs.

“She’s coming up good but while we’ll take it one race at a time, it would be lovely to get back to Flemington,’’ Kelso told Racing.com.

“I’ve always thought that she would really enjoy going 2000m. She relaxes in her races and finishes them off. You never know until you try, but her pattern of racing says that trip would be right up her alley.”

While a trip across the Tasman is on the radar, Legarto has more pressing matters in New Zealand, prepping for her first-up assignment at Ellerslie in a fortnight with a trial win at Tauranga on Tuesday.

“She trialled up really nice,’’ Kelso said. “She’ll run at Ellerslie on the 14th (January) just in an open handicap with a maximum topweight of 60 kilograms.

“The reason there is its two weeks out from the Karaka four-year-old race (Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic) worth $1 million and also gives her a good look around the track as she’s never been to Ellerslie.

“We’ll go from there possibly to the Herbie Dyke, which is Group One 2000m race at Te Rapa. Then, all going well, we’d like to think getting back to Flemington for the Australian Cup over the same trip.”

You might also like