King's Legacy Scores Second Group 1 in Champagne

Coolmore's bold decision to buy into King's Legacy after his Inglis Sires Stakes (G1) win has been almost immediately validated after the expensive colt added the Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (G1) to his record April 18.

The international breeding empire quickly moved on King's Legacy, who was an AU$1.4 million (US$1,003800) yearling, after his breakthrough group 1 success this month and reached a deal with the James Harron Bloodstock colts syndicate just days ago after fending off rival studs to secure the exciting stallion prospect.

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained King's Legacy, the latest James Harron Bloodstock syndicate-owned colt to be assured of a place at stud, defeated a gallant Glenfiddich by a neck.

Ole Kirk was another 1 1/4 lengths away in third.

The acquisition of King's Legacy continued the spending spree of Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier, who was the leading buyer at the recent Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

"We are so thankful to James Harron and his racing partners for giving us the opportunity to become involved in King's Legacy. They are a wonderful group of owners who will give him great support at stud when he retires to Coolmore when he is finished racing," said Magnier, who was the underbidder on King's Legacy as a yearling. 

"King's Legacy is a particularly good-looking horse with a great pedigree and is now the only Redoute's Choice to win multiple group 1s as a 2-year-old, so he is a very exciting proposition for us," Magnier said. 

King's Legacy's original owners, including Belinda Bateman, Gary Diamond, Phil Mehrten, Steve Gillard, John Ingham, and Jonathan Munz, will remain in the horse after selling a major share to Coolmore.

Jockey Hugh Bowman believes King's Legacy is an ideal candidate for the Golden Rose (G1) and Caulfield Guineas (G1) in the spring.

"He's an exceptional colt, and I've been informed that Coolmore have bought into him. He's got an impeccable pedigree, so you can see exactly why … he is one of the best colts in the country of his generation, and I can only see him improving further as a 3-year-old," said Bowman, who also won the Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (G1) on Farnan to claim the Sydney 2-year-old Triple Crown.

"He's the full package, and he is just hitting his straps now as an autumn 2-year-old. And as I said, you could only see him develop physically. He's already mentally all there. He's a very mentally capable horse. Physically, I can see him developing. It's very exciting what lies ahead."

Connections of King's Legacy, who won the B J McLachlan Stakes (G3) at Eagle Farm in December and was fifth in the Magic Millions 2-Year-Old Classic, elected to bypass the Golden Slipper lead-up races to instead have the colt peaking for the two Randwick group 1 juvenile races.

"I think it is only the start of what you'll probably see as a 3-year-old. He is definitely going to be a horse that is going to train on and a horse with a lot of substance and a good bit of quality about him," Peter Snowden said.

"He is a nice colt. He will only get better as a 3-year-old—there is no doubt about it. He is doing this on raw ability at the moment."

King's Legacy was the third-highest-priced lot sold at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, exceeded only by fellow Redoute's Choice colt Prague, an AU$1.6 million ($1,142,400) yearling, and the unraced Strategy, who made AU$1.7 million ($1,226,550).

Now the earner of $884,100 from six starts, including three stakes wins, King's Legacy is one of two winners for the listed-placed Breakfast In Bed, a half sister to Darley Flight Stakes (G1) and Golden Slipper place-getter Oohood.

Saturday's result also added weight to Yulong Investments' decision to buy King's Legacy's sister for AU$425,000 ($262,236) at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Segenhoe Stud draft. The victory was a milestone for auction house Magic Millions, which sold the winners of all four group 1 2-year-old races run in Australia so far this year.

They are Tagaloa (AUS) (Neds Blue Diamond Stakes), Farnan (Golden Slipper), and King's Legacy's two triumphs. 

Meanwhile, Breakfast In Bed has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and was covered by Pierro last year.

Ocean Park Mare Tofane Comes of Age in Randwick Group 1

Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson has revealed he is considering moving his family to Australia to continue his riding career as the New Zealand industry remains in complete shutdown after Tofane was rewarded for her consistency with a victory Saturday in the Schweppes All Aged Stakes (G1).

Bosson, who has ridden three group 1 winners during an extended stint in Sydney this autumn, returns to his home country this week before evaluating whether to make a more permanent move across the Tasman.

The leading New Zealand jockey extended his stay in Australia after receiving the call-up to ride the Mike Moroney-trained Tofane, who upset the farewell for stud-bound Pierata in the AU$480,000 feature.

Tofane, who was third in the City Tattersalls Club Galaxy (G1) and fifth in the T J Smith Stakes (G1), overhauled Pierata late to win by a nose. Fasika was 2 1/2 lengths back in third.

"She got into a beautiful spot and followed the horse to beat. It was a real dogfight down the straight," Bosson said.

"I wasn't sure if I won or not. I didn't find out until I saw the screen when I got back.

"Not much is happening back home at the moment, so it's good to be here and good to get a few results.

"I go back on Tuesday, and then we have to have a bit of a discussion to see whether we move the family back to Australia or not. I've got a few things to sort out first."

Bosson also won the Tab Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) on Te Akau Shark and Bentley Australian Derby (G1) on Quick Thinker. 

Tofane has raced five times this campaign, all at group 1 level, and Moroney never doubted that the 4-year-old was up to the task.

"We decided after her spring campaign that we would only target group 1 races this autumn," Melbourne-based Moroney said.

"I told her owners she would get beaten in a few, but I know she will win one.

"Her form had been great. I thought she should have run second in the Newmarket, then she ran really well for third in The Galaxy, beaten a nose and a nose.

"Her effort to then run fifth in the T J Smith Stakes was super because she was luckless from a wide barrier.

"This is a great result, and we will put her away now and set her for The Everest in the spring."

Bosson has been a leading jockey in New Zealand for years, but Moroney admitted the combination had not enjoyed a lot of significant success.

"Opie has ridden on and off for me over the years back in New Zealand, and even when we were winning premierships, we didn't have a lot of luck together," Moroney said.

"He does most of his riding for Te Akau Racing and we know he is a world-class jockey, but this is our first group 1 win together."

Tommy Berry, who rode the Greg Hickman-trained Pierata for the last time, said: "It's a bit emotional to speak about him now. I've ridden horses who have won more group 1 races than him, but I don't think I've ridden as many who try as hard.

"He put everything on the line today. I thought he might have got there. He traveled like a champ and showed his never-die attitude. It took a good horse to beat him today. Those great fighting qualities that he holds will stand him in good stead when he goes to stud (at Aquis Farm)."

The second group 1 winner for Waikato Stud-based stallion Ocean Park, Tofane has won five races, three at stakes level, for earnings of AU$803,220 ($527,774) after being withdrawn from the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale by breeder Curraghmore Stud.

Tofane was put into training by Curraghmore Stud's Gordon Cunningham after being unable to sell her, but after she won a catchweight barrier trial as an unnamed 3-year-old at Te Teko in September 2018 for Moroney and co-trainer Pam Gerard, the former orchestrated a deal to purchase her for a syndicate headed by prominent owner Rupert Legh. 

Tofane's pedigree will mean she is desired by breeders as she is a daughter of the winning mare Baggy Green, a three-quarter sister to the Chris Waller-trained group 1 winner Funstar and a half sister to Queensland Oaks (G1) successor Youngstar. 

Incidentally, Youngstar is set to be offered for sale at next month's virtual Inglis Chairman's Sale.

Baggy Green's yearling colt by Reliable Man was bought by trainer John O'Shea and Laurel Oak Bloodstock for NZ$280,000 ($184,383) at this year's NZB Karaka Yearling Sale from the Valachi Downs draft. She missed to So You Think in 2018 but was served by Ocean Park last year.