Options aplenty for Legarto

[Wandering Eyes]

Ken Kelso is a bit overwhelmed by the number of options ahead of his Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) this spring, but one thing is assured, she’s returning to Australia.

The Matamata horseman, who trains in partnership with his wife Bev, enjoyed one of the highlights of his career when the daughter of Proisir took out the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in May.

The victory added to her previous elite-level scalp in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last November.

Kelso now has a taste of Group One glory in Australia and he is eager for more, having set his sights on the lucrative Melbourne spring with his rising four-year-old.

“She’ll definitely have a couple of trials before she races either here first-up or in Melbourne,” Kelso told Racing.com.

“She’ll definitely start off (the spring) in Melbourne, but we’ve got so many options with her from there.

“There’s the Champion Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) on final day and there’s the mares’ Group One over a mile at Flemington (Empire Rose Stakes, 1600m) and then there’s the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m) and Golden Eagle (A$10 million, 1500m) to think about, but we’ll just work it out as we go.”

Kelso has been impressed with the way Legarto has returned from her spell following her Guineas triumph.

“She’s bigger and stronger than what she was then,” Kelso said.

“She’s really developed and she looks amazing.

“She had her first stretch of the legs on Tuesday at Matamata going three-quarter pace and we’re all very happy.”

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