European Import Makes a Statement at Australian Debut

Mark Smith - Saturday October 14

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.

Tough staying performance (image Steve Hart)

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.”

What's next for the import? (image Steve Hart)

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).

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Moet & Chandon St Leger Stakes 2600m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 2:39.87
1
Land Legend
- 4g Galileo (IRE) x Landikusic (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: James Ferguson Rdr: Tyler Schiller 52.5
2
2.7
Cleveland
- 6h Camelot (GB) x Venus De Milo (IRE) (Duke Of Marmalade (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
3
3.1
Kalapour
- 7g War Command (USA) x Kaladena (IRE) (Daylami (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57.5
4
4.4
Torrens
- 7h Adelaide (IRE) x A Little Knowledge (AUS) (Dangerous (AUS))
Tnr: Marc Chevalier Rdr: Jenny Duggan 55.5
5
4.7
Benaud
- 5g Reliable Man (GB) x Baggy Green (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Jamie Kah 55.5
6
8.2
Outlandos
- 7g Dissident (AUS) x Rocksan (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Craig Williams 55.5
7
10.5
Raging Bull
- 5g Bull Point (AUS) x Sunday Sinners (AUS) (Danbird (AUS))
Tnr: M S Minervini Rdr: J R Collett 55.5
8
14.8
True Marvel
- 8g Masked Marvel (GB) x Anecdotique (FR) (Enrique (GB))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 55.5
9
16.3
Major Beel
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Gram (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 57.5
10
22.6
Apache Belle
- 8m Mahisara (AUS) x Accountess (AUS) (Marwina (AUS))
Tnr: Wayne Seelin Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 53.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Galileo's Land Legend Wins a Drama Packed G1 Metropolitan
The French-bred import Land Legend (FR) earned Chris Waller a sixth win in the James Squire Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, a first Group 1 for Reece Jones and an astonishing 102nd Group 1 winner for Galileo, but it did not come without drama.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.