One more race for Legarto before going to auction

[Wandering Eyes]

After returning to her best form with a fourth Group One win in Saturday’s Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) is likely to have just one more start before being going to auction as a broodmare.

The six-year-old daughter of Proisir had gone winless for almost a year when she repeated her 2024 Herbie Dyke Stakes win with a dogged victory over Victorian raider Kingswood (Roaring Lion), crediting her jockey Opie Bosson with his 100th elite win and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso with their 15th.

That took her record from 23 starts to 11 wins and stakes of almost $2.6 million, with earlier highlights being the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old. She was also placed second, third or fourth in another six Group One races, three of those in races immediately leading up to Saturday’s win.

Ken Kelso reported that Legarto came through her weekend exertions in excellent order, setting her up for the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day.

“We put her out in the paddock after getting home from the races, but it took a while to catch her when I went out to put her cover on later on,” Kelso said.

“That tells me she’s taken no harm from the race, so the Bonecrusher is the obvious next target for her.

“Beyond that we’ll have to talk things through. She’s rising seven and we’ve already decided this is her final preparation, but if she was to go well at Ellerslie we could perhaps look at a race like the Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m).”

Philip Brown, speaking on behalf of the 12-strong ownership group that includes the Kelsos, confirmed that Legarto will go to auction at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast in May.

“We’ve already arranged for her to go to Brian Nutt at Attunga Stud to be prepared for the sale,” Brown said.

“Being a partnership, public auction is the proper way to realise her true worth. As a multiple Group One winner including one in Australia, she’s obviously a valuable mare, so it’s going to be an interesting exercise.

“That was probably the most emotional win of all on Saturday – to see her bounce back after some had begun to doubt her, Opie getting his 100 and another big win for Ken and Bev – it was special.”

Brown and his wife Catherine, as well as fellow Matamata identities Tony and Mary Enting, were in the partnership that raced another four-time Group One-winning racemare in Levante (NZ) (Proisir), who likewise was by Proisir and was trained by the Kelsos.

The Browns retained Levante after she was retired and are now breeding from her on a foal-share arrangement with Arrowfield Stud. Her only foal to date, a yearling filly by Snitzel, sold for A$600,000 at last month’s Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale and will be trained by Chris Waller.

Levante is now in-foal to the rising star on the Arrowfield roster, The Autumn Sun, and is scheduled to be covered by him again next spring before returning to the Browns’ Ancroft Stud.

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