Juvenile Summary: Bound for greatness, Legacy Bound dominates in the Breeders' Stakes

Cover image courtesy of Griffiths Racing

Legacy Bound delivers another stakes winner for red-hot Ole Kirk

Ole Kirk has been a first-season sire on fire, and Legacy Bound’s dominant performance in the G3 Breeders’ Stakes at Morphettville added to his incredible debut season, becoming stakes winner number four for the Vinery Stud-based stallion.

Creating a big impression when recording a big win at his Ballarat debut, Legacy Bound took that form to Adelaide where he was never really tested, kicking clear to win by 2.8l, with Steel Trap (King’s Legacy) finishing second, and Oakley Miss (Shooting To Win) a further 3.45l away in third.

And that was despite him not doing everything right with jockey Mark Zahra noting that he was “a bit green; he idled a bit in front.”

“But he showed an amazing turn of foot - it was a smart win.

“He is a big, raw horse who wanted to play around in the gates a bit - he didn't jump that well but I was keen to use his speed. When I asked him to go I though 'nothing is going to catch me!'”

Racing in green and white colours of his breeders Vinery Stud, the horse was given to Robbie as a reward for his support of Ole Kirk, who has ties to another favourite stallion of Griffith's.

The son of a full sister to Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), Ole Kirk is a great grandson of Scandinavia (Snippets) - dam of Magnus, and he is a big fan of that stallion having had lots of success with him.

“We love this family,” Griffiths enthused, adding that “we were really keen to get hold of an Ole Kirk and now we've got three of them, and it's good to have a smart one”.

“Legacy Bound is a beautiful horse,” he said. “He trialled up really well in the spring - we gelded him and popped him out. He showed a great turn of foot at Ballarat and did that again today.”

Legacy Bound is the fourth foal and second winner for Sanaya (More Than Ready {USA}), a Kembla Grange-winning mare bred and raced by Vinery Stud.

Sanaya foaled a full sister to Legacy Bound last season, and was subsequently served by Exceedance. She is out of G2 WH Stocks Stakes winner Astrodame (Flying Spur), from the prolific family of G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Midnight Fever (Luskin Star).

This illustrious family has also produced stakes winners such as Candika (Sebring), Mahisara, Ulmann (Sebring), Woppitt (Danzero), Greyworm (Master Of Design), and Rock Classic (Fastnet Rock).

Talkanco secures historic Gimcrack–Karrakatta double

The talented Daniel and Ben Pearce-trained Talkanco (I’m All The Talk) has always shaped as a very exciting prospect—and now she’s etched her name into West Australian juvenile racing history as a G3 Gimcrack Stakes and G2 Karrakatta Plate double winner.

Following her strong debut win, Talkanco turned in two excellent placings—first behind Yes Queen (Yes Yes Yes), then at Listed level behind Luana Miss (Bivouac). But it has been her past two starts that sealed her status as the state’s premier juvenile, completing the Group race double.

On Saturday, she proved simply too good in West Australia's premier 2-year-old race, outclassing the game maiden Just Too Fly (Justify {USA}), and the previously unbeaten Snitzalatte (Snitzel). Race favourite Yes Queen (Yes Yes Yes) ran a solid fourth after appearing to have every chance.

Dan Pearce was naturally relieved to see his star filly get the job done and, when asked how he was feeling, said:

“It’s been a relief I guess, we knew what we had leading into it, on the back of her win two weeks ago. Chloe (Chloe Pearce) rides her, and she wasn’t letting anyone else on her.

“It was a case of keeping her in one piece and get a bit of luck in the running.”

When questioned about her improvement and her developing tractability, Pearce added;

“She’s a bit more of a polished product now than she was a couple of starts ago. She seems to be improving as she goes, and getting a bit more confidence.”

“The ability level is obviously there, so we’ve got a fair bit to work with.”

Pearce was quick to emphasise the value and importance of early 2-year-old success and the impact it has for his ownership model;

“Our business couldn’t be what it is if we weren’t supported by our ownership group. Ian Riley has bred this horse himself and brought a group of his mates into it, and it’s great for racing. Part of our business model is getting horses that can get up and about early and getting owners reward for their investment.”

Talkanco is the third foal out of Calianco (California Dane), a five-time winning sprinter in South Australia. Calianco is a half-sister to the nine-time winner Hurrara (Hussonet {USA}), who was placed in the Listed Maurice McCarten Stakes. This is also the extended family of Blur (Flying Spur) and Shrewd Rhythm.

Since producing Talkanco, Calianco has foaled a weanling colt by Marine One and was subsequently served by Rich Enuff.

Grand Eagle Soars from Last to First

The winning roll for Kia Ora Stud’s outstanding first season sire Farnan continued at Randwick on Saturday, when the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Grand Eagle stormed home from what looked like a hopeless position, when last at the turn to win impressively.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Hayek (Capitalist) led the race at a powerful tempo, with the favourite and well-performed Hidden Motive (Capitalist) stalking him in second place. At about the 200-metre mark Hidden Motive and Akaysha (Capitalist) loomed up and looked likely to fight out the race, before Grand Eagle flew past them both to score impressively, with Akaysha and Hidden Motive having to settle for minor placings.

“It was a very good win,” trainer Gerald Ryan told media.

“This colt has always promised to be a lot, and I always thought this horse wasn't very far behind King Of Pop, but King Of Pop is so professional, and this horse wanted to do a bit wrong.

“But Nash rode him work one morning and put a really big wrap on him. After the colt won at Hawkesbury the other day, (owner) John Moore was thinking about taking him to Hong Kong.

“I rang John and said, ‘don't take him to Hong Kong, he will win good races here in the spring', so he will go out now.

“I wasn't worried, not with Nash riding him,” Ryan said, “Nash really likes the horse.'”

Grand Eagle was coming off a Hawkesbury win and Rawiller has been a fan of the horse throughout;

“He has shown us good ability from day one, and I think we have found the key to him,'” Rawiller said.

“At his first couple of starts, he was overusing his energy early in his races, so I had a chat to Gerald before the Hawkesbury race and I said I might ride him cold that day to see if he could turn it around.

“He was explosive that day although he probably hit the front too soon.

“It was the plan to ride him that way again today because I just wanted to switch him right off early.

“There was good speed on and they gave a kick before the turn when he was still going through his gears. He is still very green but he was really strong late. He's a beauty.'”

That takes Grand Eagle's record up to two wins and a placing from only four starts and he looks the type that could continue to improve, more distance may be of assistance, but he did enjoy the strong tempo and the genuinely run 1100 metres.

Grand Eagle is a half-sister to Chilled (Shalaa {Ire}) who was a dual winner as a juvenile and was stakes-placed in the Listed Without Fear Stakes, he comes from the extended family of Catchy (Fastnet Rock) who was the brilliant winner of the G1 Blue DIamond Stakes.

Grand Eagle was purchased by George Moore Bloodstock from the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $300,000 from the draft of Valiant Stud

Since producing Grand Eagle, Sauvignon has produced a Farnan weanling filly, and was subsequently served by Anamoe last spring.

Unbeaten Dragonne Rouge blazes to Listed win for Dracarys

The talented Shaun Dwyer-trained filly Dragonne Rouge (Dracarys) maintained her unbeaten record on Saturday, producing an impressive performance under jockey Andrew Mallyon, to claim her third win from as many starts in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Dragonne Rouge narrowly edged out Ha’Penny Hatch (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), who became the first stakes performer in Australasia for her sire Circus Maximus (Ire), while Sweet Pretender (Zousain) filled third, 3.7l behind the winner.

Already a winner at the Sunshine Coast and Doomben, Dragonne Rouge delivered her best performance to date and, in doing so, became the first stakes winner for her sire Dracarys.

The Oakwood Farm-based stallion has made a strong early impression at stud, with 21 winners from just 37 runners before Saturday. His previous best performer was the two-time winner and stakes-placed filly Khalisee.

Dwyer said the G1 J J Atkins Stakes on June 14 at Eagle Farm could be on the cards for the talented filly, he commented to media;

“Look, it's a while off. She'll probably get away with one run in between then,” said Dwyer, “Let's just see how she pulls up. I'm keen to do anything that might work.

“She's got a good 18 months of racing in her, and I'm mindful of some good 3-year-old races next year too. We've got the Magic Millions (3YO Guineas) and next year's 3-year-old races. She's a big filly but she's light, and she doesn't hurt herself.

“She could go through another race and maybe get to the mile race (JJ Atkins). She's a real racehorse.”

Dragonne Rouge is out of Mondeuse (New Approach {Ire}), a 1200 metre winner who has proven a consistent broodmare, producing four winners from as many runners.

She hails from a deep Queensland pedigree—Mondeuse is a daughter of the outstanding galloper Star Shiraz (Sequalo), winner of the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes and placegetter in both the G1 Coolmore Classic and G1 TJ Smith Classic. Star Shiraz is also a half-sister to Retsina (Redoute’s Choice), dam of stakes winners Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}), Vilana (Hallowed Crown), and Athiri (Lonhro).

Since producing Dragonne Rouge, Mondeuse has delivered a yearling full brother, a weanling full sister, and was again served by Dracarys last spring.

Dragonne Rouge was a $25,000 purchase by Dwyer Thoroughbred Racing from the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.

Name says it all: Saluted salutes at The Valley

Saluted (I Am Immortal) kept her unbeaten record intact with a dominant performance at The Valley in a small four-horse juvenile field, living up to her name as she saluted the judge once again.

The talented filly had previously showcased her natural speed at Pakenham, leading all the way on debut on April 10 to defeat Just Kick (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) by 1.25l. That form received a significant boost when Just Kick finished a slashing third in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington on Friday.

On Saturday, Saluted proved simply too quick once again, delivering a comfortable 2.5l victory under Jye McNeil. Alzaro (Zousain) finished second, with All Pink (Capitalist) a further 1.75l away in third.

Jockey Jye McNeil, who has formed a strong partnership with Saluted, said the only lingering question was how she would handle the wet surface. But against just three rivals, she found the front early and was never seriously challenged.

“With the wetter surface today, that was going to be a question mark,” McNeil said.

“She had been on that ground in jump-outs, but it’s different under race conditions, but she acquitted herself really well and she’s obviously a talent.”

“Today, she was more relaxed when she found the front and that was only going to help her be stronger late.”

Trainer Robbie Griffiths admitted to also being worried about the track, he commented "Speed horses like her sometimes don't really relish those sort of conditions but she raced like she has been on them twenty times before!.

“She has always shown herself to be a real speed-ball, she educated like that and she showed at debut that she has a good future.

“She passed another test handling that soft track and I loved the way she controlled the way and how strong she was to the line."

While Saluted’s immediate pedigree lacks black type close up, there is depth in the family—her fourth dam is Bounding Away (Can) (Vice Regent {Can}), who was crowned Champion Turf Horse in Canada in 1984.

Since producing Saluted, No Reward has delivered a yearling full sister by I Am Immortal, but sadly lost a colt by the same sire shortly after birth last year.

A big name, a big performance, Beadman delivers

The Peter Snowden-trained Beadman (Snitzel) put in an impressive front-running performance to deliver in the hands of Mitchell Bell at Newcastle at only his second start at Newcastle on Saturday.

He never gave his opposition a look in and prevailed by 1.83l from Swag (Bivouac) in second, and there was only 0.02l to Southern Prince (Trapeze Artist) in third.

The talented Snitzel colt ran a pleasing second on debut at Kembla Grange on April 15 behind Akaysha (Capitalist), and she backed up that form with a solid second behind Grand Eagle (Farnan) at Randwick today.

Beadman has a strong pedigree being out of a French Listed winner in Iffranesia (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), and his damline is full of European stakes performers.

Beadman was purchased for $900,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Iffranesia since producing Beadman, has left a weanling colt by Snitzel, and was served last spring by Dundeel (NZ).