Filly Completes Guineas Double for Coolmore
Description:
Coolmore and partners and jockey Ryan Moore pulled off a classic double at Newmarket this weekend, when Legatissimo rallied from last to capture the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) for 3-year-old fillies May 3.
The team landed the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) the previous day with Gleneagles. While Legatissimo is trained by David Wachman, Gleneagles is conditioned by Aidan O'Brien.
A daughter of Danehill Dancer, Legatissimo ran down front-runner Lucida for a three-quarter-length victory at 13-2 odds and stamped herself as a horse to watch for the Investec Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) June 5.
Last season's champion 2-year-old filly, Tiggy Wiggy, finished a well-beaten third in the 13-horse field after leading more than a quarter mile out then giving way when 9-2- favorie Lucida came calling nearing the furlong mark.
Last after the first half mile, Legatissimo advanced into contention under pressure with more than an eighth of a mile to run and kicked on strongly for Moore, wearing down Lucida to lead in the final 75 yards.
"They went a good gallop and she settled well," Moore said. "I found a good rhythm and she stayed on well. I think she'll get farther."
Legatissimo finished the mile in 1:34.60 on firm turf and improved her record to 3-1-0 from six career starts. She came into the filly classic after a convincing 3 3/4-length romp in a minor stakes April 26 at Gowran Park. Two weeks earlier, she was fourth in the Leopardstown One Thousand Guineas Trial in her first start of the year.
Legatissimo was bred in Ireland by Newsells Park Stud and acquired by Coolmore's M.V. Magnier for 350,000 guineas (US$591,565) at the Tattersalls October yearling sale, where she was cataloged in the elite Book 1.
The winner's dam is the winning Montjeu mare Yummy Mummy, a full sister to multiple Euorpean group I winner and Irish classic winner Fame And Glory.