Deauville Legend advertises Melbourne Cup credentials with impressive York win
Trainer James Ferguson and owner Bon Ho look to have a serious Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) contender on their hands in the shape of Deauville Legend (Sea The Stars) after the northern hemisphere three-year-old ran out a thoroughly convincing winner of yesterday’s Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 4f) at York.
Already earmarked by connections from a trip down under following his win in the Bahrain Trophy (Gr 3, 1m 5f) at Newmarket earlier in the year, a race won by the likes of Hartnell (Authorized) and Spanish Mission (Noble Mission) in recent years, Deauville Legend shot to the head of the betting for the Flemington feature with the northern hemisphere bookmakers with a taking two-and-three-quarter-lengths win.
Ridden patiently by Daniel Muscutt, the gelding moved into the clear a furlong from home and kept on well for a comfortable win over Godolphin’s Secret State (Dubawi), having been sent off the well-backed 5-2 favourite. The winner’s stablemate El Bodegon (Kodiac) finished a further length-and-a-half away in third.
“That was very impressive, to be fair he has done nothing but improve every run this year,” Muscutt said of the three-time winner.
“I was able to pick my way out and as soon as I set about him, he dropped gear. He is a very classy horse.”
Asked whether he thought the lightly raced son of Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) would be able to hold his own in the likely big field of the Melbourne Cup, Muscutt said: “He is only a young horse still, but he is a strong stayer. He has all the right credentials.”
Yesterday’s race is traditionally seen as a trial for the St Leger (Gr 1, 1m 6.5f) at Doncaster next month and while Deauville Legend’s gelding operation at two prevents him from taking part in the Classic, Ferguson has no regrets with an Australian adventure now foremost in his thoughts.
“He was a lot to handle as a two-year-old – he was quite colty,” he said. “It has brought him on a lot. He is still maturing all the time and it was certainly the right thing to do.”
Reflecting on yesterday’s performance, the trainer said: “That was a wonderful stepping stone for his run next, down in Australia hopefully, and I would like to think he is going down there with every chance.”
A €200,000 purchase out of the Arqana Deauville Select Sale as a yearling, Deauville Legend (3 g ex Soho Rose by Hernando) is the fifth foal out of the Hernando (Niniski) mare Soho Rose, making him a brother to the Group 2-winner Sea La Rosa.