A pair of well-related gallopers delivered impressive fresh-up victories for Roger James and Robert Wellwood across the weekend.
Irish Legacy (I Am Invincible), a daughter of multiple Australian Group One-winning mare Shillelagh, made her four-year-old debut at Ellerslie on Saturday, after four appearances last term included a third placing in the Gr.3 Mufhasa Stakes (1200m).
Backed into odds-on favouritism in the TAB 1200, Irish Legacy was patiently handled by Ryan Elliot early, easing into a midfield position on the back of her younger stablemate Osteria. A wall of horses were in front of the mare nearing the 250m, but Elliot quickly reverted to the inside and once she found clear air, Irish Legacy put the field away comfortably, with Osteria (NZ) (Ribchester) holding on gamely to complete the Kingsclere quinella.
Wellwood was rapt with the performance, with the ultimate goal to boost her black-type record for Christopher Grace, who bred and co-owns the blue-blooded mare.
“She was very impressive, maturity has been a big thing for her both physically and mentally,” he said. “She’s not the easiest filly, but she’s certainly grown up a lot.
“She got a bit of black-type at three so clearly the ability was there, but to see her sprint and put them away as easily as she did yesterday, it was a nice statement.
“I think we’ll work through the grades, but she’s by I Am Invincible out of a Group One winner, so the more black-type we can get, the better. She has been retained by her breeder, so we want to find some black-type at some point.”
Wellwood also praised the efforts of Osteria, the Ribchester three-year-old recording his fourth top-three finish in as many starts this campaign for owner-breeders Barneswood Farm.
“He was very good, he ran a good race but just unfortunately ran into what is a very good mare,” he said.
“We’re not sure where we will head with him next, but he’ll probably step up to 1400 now.”
On Sunday, James and Wellwood were represented at Te Aroha by Usain (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who returned in style to collect his maiden success in the Team Wealleans 1400. The son of U S Navy Flag was last at the races in June, finishing fifth over a mile to Awhina.
In the hands of Masa Hashizume, who won earlier in the meeting aboard Dua Dance, Usain was eased back from a wide gate, travelling wide early before finding cover behind race-favourite Bak Da Angel. The gelding crossed to the centre of the track down the home straight and kept finding, kicking away from Bak Da Angel in the final strides to score by a half-length.
“We were hopeful that he would go and win today, but we thought that he may have to get out to a mile,” Wellwood said.
“He’s strengthened up a lot into this preparation, he’s still got a lot to learn and he lay in coming down the straight, but he hit the line strongly and was pretty impressive.”
Usain is the eighth foal out of Etah, making him a half-brother to Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner Etah James. Wellwood expects, with time, the gelding can also make his mark in the staying ranks.
“We certainly think he’s only going to get better as he goes further and probably with a bit more time,” he said.
“Looking to next year, that is probably when we’re going to see him really put his hand up, he’s still got some maturing to do but the family has probably been a bit like that.”
Usain is raced by his breeders, Mark and Cath Lupton, Terry Reid and Gary Howes.
