Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Cranbourne hosted one 2-year-old trial on Monday, with eight juveniles contesting the 800-metre heat on a Soft 7 surface.
The Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained Chosen Legend (Extreme Choice) prevailed in a time of 46.96s.
With Jamie Kah in the saddle, Chosen Legend jumped well from an inside gate and took up a prominent early position. The filly wasn’t asked for the supreme effort, cruising home in the run to the line to score by 0.4l from the Clinton McDonald-trained Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) and Shehungthemoon (I Am Invincible) for Anthony and Sam Freedman was a further 1.5l away in third.
“We were very happy with how she went today (Monday), it was rain-affected going, which she handled really well. Whether that flattered her a little, I’m not sure, but she ran good time,” Yeomans told The Thoroughbred Report.
“If she pulls up okay, we’re going to head to the Inglis Banner (on Cox Plate Day) with her.”
“If she (Chosen Legend) pulls up okay, we’re going to head to the Inglis Banner (on Cox Plate Day) with her.” - Lucy Yeomans
Bred by Matt Upton, Chosen Legend was the highest-priced filly at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Bon Ho’s Legend Racing paid $420,000 for her from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft.
The filly is the second foal from the five-time winner Lady No More (Onemorenomore). Chosen Legend’s second dam, Lady Hepburn (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}), won over 1000 metres and is a half-sister to the Listed placegetter Galvarino (Stryker).
Her third dam, Lady Diva (Polish Navy {USA}), won four races and is a half-sister to the stakes winners Red Arrow and Able Choice (Dehere {USA}), as well as Miss Jakeo (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) - the dam of the stakes winners Mrs Onassis (General Nediym), Aussies Love Sport (Redoute’s Choice), Fifth Avenue Lady (Encosta De Lago) and Miss Judgement (Strategic).
Chosen Legend as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Saturday’s G3 Angst S. victress Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) hails from this family, as do the stakes winners Missrock (Fastnet Rock) and Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock).
“She was one of Lloyd’s top picks of the sale, there was a colt and a filly, both by Extreme Choice, that he put to Bon. He liked the filly and bought her,” Yeomans explained.
“She’s been very good, very sharp and fairly straightforward.
“She’s (Chosen Legend) been very good, very sharp and fairly straightforward.” - Lucy Yeomans
“It was nice to see her deliver that performance in the trial.”
The R. Listed Inglis Banner carries a total prize purse of $500,000, with $300,000 going to the winner, and the honour roll includes Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}), Semillion (Shalaa {Ire}), Sneaky Five (Fastnet Rock) and Setsuna (Choisir).
