Big Pay Day Looms for Proisir Mare Legarto

Media Release - Thursday March 7

The connections of short-priced favourite Legarto are in for a massive payday following Saturday’s $450,000 Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, irrespective of the result.

The daughter of Proisir is almost assured of taking home the lion’s share of the $650,000 summer series bonus that was introduced this year by Entain Australia and New Zealand in association with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

Legarto is set for a lucrative payday at Ellerslie on Saturday following the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The series is running across four races between January and March, rewarding $500,000 to the series winner, $100,000 to the runner-up and $50,000 for the third placegetter, with the associated trainers taking home 10 percent of the bonus payments.

To become eligible for the bonus, a horse needed to have contested either of the first two legs of the series – the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 20 or $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27.

Advertisement

Having finished runner-up in the Aotearoa Classic before taking out the third leg of the series, the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month, Legarto is a clear series leader with 20.5 points.

With 13.5 points given to the winner of the fourth and final leg of the series, the New Zealand Stakes, and Legarto assured of three points for just starting in the race, Robbie Patterson’s One Bold Cat is the only other horse in contention for the series’ top prize, with the Taranaki gelding having to win and Legarto to finish outside the top four in order to take home $500,000.

While it will be a tough ask to roll the $1.45 favourite, One Bold Cat (10.5 points) still has the minor bonuses to chase, alongside stablemate Puntura (9 points), El Vencedor (7 points), and Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Skyman (5 points).

While chasing a Group One prize is always the primary objective, Legarto’s trainers Ken and Bev Kelso are excited by the added incentive of the summer series bonus.

“It is going to be a great day on Saturday because we have got that bonus to go for as well, which is going to be a huge payday,” Ken Kelso told Trackside NZ. “She doesn’t have to win it to get the bonus, it is quite exciting.”

Legarto had a trial last week to keep her up to the mark post her Herbie Dyke win, and Kelso has been pleased with her progress.

“She had a quiet trial here at Matamata last Thursday over 1100m. She was only getting warmed-up at the line,” he said.

“I go down every night at about 7:30pm and check her, and she licks the bowl clean by then and is looking for more. She is really thriving.”

While there is some pressure that comes with lining up a short-priced favourite every time you go to the races, Kelso said it is great to give the sport a heroine to help promote the industry.

“She goes out pretty short every time, which puts a little bit of pressure on you,” he said. “She is as well as we can get her, it is just up to Ryan (Elliot, jockey) now.

“It is great for racing (to have a horse like Legarto). We need these horses to profile the sport and hopefully they get a bit of a following, like Roger’s (James) filly (Orchestral) last week (when winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby, 2400m).” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Proisir

Proisir in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Legarto Flying Ahead of $1million Aotearoa Classic
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso couldn’t be happier with heir glamour mare Legarto ahead of Saturday’s inaugural running of the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m).
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Star Proisir Mare Legarto Wins G1 Herbie Dyke
Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have long believed Legarto had the potential to excel over 2000m, and their stable star proved them right on Saturday with a sparkling performance in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Legarto Bidding to Continue Kiwi Golden Eagle Dominance
New Zealand has held a strong influence on the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) since it was added to Sydney’s spring itinerary four years ago, and top-class Matamata mare Legarto has the opportunity to add to that record at Rosehill on Saturday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?