News

Celestial Legend wins G1 as Inglis graduates shine

9th Mar 2024

Outstanding 3YO Celestial Legend gave owner Bon Ho another G1 win and exciting 2YO Switzerland kept his unbeaten record intact and confirmed himself a serious Golden Slipper contender as Inglis graduates flexed their muscle on a big day of autumn racing.

Celestial Legend (Dundeel) was the highlight act, winning the G1 Randwick Guineas for trainer Les Bridge at just start No.7.

Celestial Legend has always promised a top-level win, with trainer Les Bridge today declaring the colt “the best horse I’ve had’’, despite training the likes of Classique Legend, Sir Dapper and Kensei to name just a few.

And today was the day, despite jockey Kerrin McEvoy not enjoying the best of luck in running from the outside barrier 11.

“He never got on the track. It was amazing,’’ Bridge said.

“I think he’s the best horse I’ve had and I’ve thought so for a while but I’ve been frightened to even admit it to myself but he’s fantastic.

“If he pulls up well I’ll run him in the Doncaster.’’

Celestial Legend (pictured) is a $220,000 Classic Yearling Sale buy for Bon Ho and Avenue Bloodstock out of the draft of Arrowfield, who bred the horse.

The win capped off a huge day for Arrowfield – both with their graduates and their stallions – as well as upcoming offerings at the Easter Yearling Sale.

“We’ve bred Celestial Legend to win the G1 Randwick Guineas, our sires produced the trifecta in the same race, we bred Autumn Angel who won a Group race in Melbourne and of course there’s Switzerland and the fact we’ve got his brother coming to Easter – as well as Celestial Legend’s half brother - it’s been a fabulous day for Arrowfield,’’ stud principal John Messara said.

“Celestial Legend is such a tenacious colt, it’s wonderful for Mr Bon Ho to get a horse like him, it’s great for Dundeel who’s just really coming of age.

“Switzerland, isn’t he a beauty, he doesn’t know how to lose and it’s just so satisfying for Snitzel to have another elite 2YO like him.

“All of this on the eve of Inglis Easter, timing in this game is everything.’’

Switzerland’s victory in today’s G2 Todman Stakes at Randwick was one of an exceptionally talented 2YO.

The Chris Waller-trained colt has now won all three of his career starts and is a $6 second elect with Ladbrokes for the $5m G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill in a fortnight.

Switzerland (Snitzel) is a $1.5m Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Coolmore’s Tom Magnier from the draft of Arrowfield, who bred the colt with Cloros Bloodstock.

Switzerland is raced by some of the industry’s most influential personalities including the Magnier family, Derrick Smith, Westerberg’s Georg Von Opel, Sir Peta Vela, Debbie Kepitis, John Ingham, Lyn Ingham, Linda Huddy, John Guscic etc.

“The Slipper is obviously a race you dream about in Australia, it’s a stallion making race and it’s a long way away, even though it’s only two weeks,’’ Tom Magnier said post-race.

“To be fair to Chris [Waller] he’s always said [Switzerland] was a horse that is getting there, he’s been coming together the whole time.

“He’s got him picture perfect at the moment, he just keeps improving. If you saw him in the yard before the race he looked a million dollars, it’s full credit to Chris and his team and everybody involved.’’

Waller added: “It was a great field today, we got a taste of what will be on show in two weeks’ time, it’s going to be an amazing race the Slipper.

“Today’s field was as good a field as I’ve seen leading into a Slipper for a while and hopefully the form holds up in two weeks’ time.

“Switzerland is not fully fit, we’re just banking on the horse, he’s kept improving each run, putting on a bit of weight, strengthening up nicely and enjoying himself which I think is the most important thing for any horse but especially a young horse.’’

Arrowfield will offer Switzerland’s brother (ex Ms Bad Behavior) as lot 170 at next month’s Easter Yearling Sale as part of their 61-strong draft, as well as Celestial Legend’s Maurice half brother (ex Sarraqa) as lot 260.

The Easter Yearling Sale will be held at Riverside Stables on April 7 and 8.

To view the Easter catalogue CLICK HERE.

Switzerland defeated Straight Charge today in an Inglis graduates quinella.

Later on the Randwick program quality mare Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) won the G2 Challenge Stakes for the second consecutive year for her trainer Grahame Begg.

Today’s win was Passive Aggressive’s sixth from nine starts – and third at Stakes level - and took her career earnings to $800,000.

The 5YO is a $500,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock – for Jonathan Munz – from the draft of her breeder Cressfield.

And Tintookie (Winning Rupert) scored a valuable first black type success when winning the G3 Wenona Girl Quality.

The win was Tintookie’s fifth of her career and took her career earnings to almost $500,000.

Bred by Ralph Tierney, Tintookie has been a fantastic investment for trainer Brad Widdup, who purchased her for just $30,000 at the HTBA Sale, where she was offered by Riversdale.

Tintookie defeated C’est Magique today, who will be offered as a racing and breeding prospect at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May.

At Flemington today – whose meeting was run early due to extreme heat in Melbourne - talented filly Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) won her second Stakes race from her past three starts with victory in the G2 Kewney Stakes.

Second-up today having run well first up in the Angus Armanasco Stakes, Autumn Angel settled behind the speed before holding off a surge of late challengers.

She was previously victorious in the G3 Ethereal Stakes in the spring.

Autumn Angel is a $230,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Dalziel Bloodstock and Moody Racing from the draft of Arrowfield, who bred the filly with Katsumi Yoshida’s Jungle Pocket joint venture.

“She’s a really nice filly,’’ Wylie Dalziel said.

“I’m rapt for the ownership group, they backed us and said ‘why don’t we go and buy a couple of nice fillies from Sydney [at Inglis Easter] and we got her and a lovely Zoustar filly. It’s great.’’

Autumn Angel will now likely head to Sydney for the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill on March 30.

And Von Hauke (Savabeel) proved he was up to Stakes grade in convincing fashion, winning the G3 Shaftesbury Avenue at Flemington at his first attempt at Group level.

In doing so, the 4YO led in an Inglis graduates quinella, defeating Amenable.

The Waikato Stud-bred Von Hauke is a $190,000 Premier Yearling Sale buy for his trainer Cliff Brown, from the draft of Ryan Arnel’s Stonehouse Thoroughbreds.

“He’s a lovely horse and today was really significant because he relaxed nicely, he’s learnt a lot,’’ trainer Brown said.

“We threw him in the deep end today but we did it for a reason, his sectionals first up were unbelievable and we thought 1400m second up would be ideal. He’s a horse with really good upside.’’