By Sean Cronin
James Ferguson trainee Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}–Rocana {GB}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) registered a 3 1/2-length tally in his Feb. 20 debut over one mile at Newcastle and made a smooth transition into stakes company with a game victory in Wednesday's Listed bet365 Feilden S. at Newmarket. The 15-2 chance broke well from the far-side stall and tracked the leaders in fifth for most of this straight nine-furlong contest. Easing into third approaching the quarter-mile marker, he took some time to engage top gear and, once doing so, devoured the ground under continued urging up the hill to deny Kolsai (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by a half-length in the dying strides for a career high.
“I was delighted with how professional he was when the gates opened and, from that wide draw, he had every opportunity to be keen and free, but he settled into the race really well,” said Ferguson of the G1 2000 Guineas, G2 Dante Stakes and G1 Derby entry. “I thought he was given a lovely ride and, from the jockey's action, it looked like he was pretty happy the whole way, so I'm thrilled. He has always been a big type and we made an executive decision to leave him and let him develop over the winter. That run at Newcastle and today has shown that he does have that ability we thought he had at home. The whole way through his training has been fairly smooth, so credit to the guys back home as they all do a wonderful job.” Looking ahead, the local conditioner added, “I think he will definitely get further in time and we've got a lot of options ahead of us. It is very exciting to have a horse of this calibre for his owner, who has been with me since I started. He is in both the Dante and the Derby and I think we have to see how he comes out of the race first. The [2000] Guineas is not far away and he looks like he wants further, but I have to talk to the owner first.”
Pedigree Notes
Canberra Legend, half to a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), is one of three scorers from as many runners produced by an unraced half-sister to four black-type performers headed by G2 Gimcrack S. victor Blaine (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}), the stakes-winning Bogart (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and G3 Prix Eclipse runner-up Legal Attack (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}). Descendants of the April-foaled chestnut's fifth dam Djallybrook (Fr) (Djakao {Fr}) include GI Breeders' Cup Sprint-winning US champion Lit de Justice (El Gran Senor), G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Commander Collins (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and G1 Derby and G1 Irish Derby third Colonel Collins (El Gran Senor).
Wednesday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 FEILDEN S.-Listed, £50,000, Newmarket, 4-19, 3yo, 9fT, 1:56.24, g/s.
1–CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Lauren Louise (GB), by Tagula (Ire)
3rd Dam: Movie Star (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (125,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 350,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-James Ferguson; J-Daniel Muscutt. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $47,440. *1/2 to Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), GSW-Eng, $184,480.
2–Kolsai (GB), 128, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Fizzi Top (GB), by Frankel (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (160,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Roger Varian. £10,750.
3–Killybegs Warrior (Ire), 128, c, 3, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Alltherightmoves (Ire), by Namid (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (100,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; €50,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-M Doyle; B-Glashare House Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Johnston. £5,380.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 7.50, 16.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Regal Honour (Ire), Bold Act (Ire), Galactic Jack (Ire), Intinso (GB), Blanchland (Ire), Captain Wierzba (GB).
🇦🇺 Canberra Legend – still unbeaten for @jamesferguson89 & @D_Muscutttt @NewmarketRace
🏇 Two runs
🥇 Two wins
💷 350,000gns purchase
🏆 @bet365 Fielden Stakes
🚀 20/1 for the 2000 Guineas pic.twitter.com/dgoakGcA8V— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 19, 2023
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