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‘Could be silk department’: Owner Rupert Legh’s Brave call about 2024 The Rosebud hope

Brave One can join owner Rupert Legh’s “band of brothers” on the march to the spring carnival if he can win the Listed $200,000 Sydney Markets The Rosebud (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Ray Thomas
6 min read
August 17, 2024 - 7:00AM
Punters Previews Rosehill for 17-08-24

Brave One can join owner Rupert Legh’s “band of brothers” on the march to the spring carnival if he can win the Listed $200,000 Sydney Markets The Rosebud (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Legh, famous as the owner of champion sprinter Chautauqua, races a number of exciting three-year-olds including Brave One, an impressive Randwick debut winner last month.

Team Hawkes trains some of Legh’s promising young horses, notably Brave One, Theblade, Swiftfalcon and Winchester, all last start winners.

Brave One gets to stakes level in The Rosebud while Winchester lines up in the Group 3 $200,000 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Legh is hoping the duo can continue his winning momentum after the owner’s famous colours of navy, yellow lightning bolt, armbands and cap were carried to victory by Theblade, a runaway winner by nearly six lengths on debut at Kensington last Wednesday.

Prominent owner Rupert Legh. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images
Prominent owner Rupert Legh. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

“John (Hawkes) tells me Winchester is a very good horse but Brave One and Theblade could be silk department,’’ Legh said.

Brave One, who is by the Hawkes stable’s former Group 1 winner Exceedance, defeated subsequent city winner Mayfair and Rosebud rival Winning Proposal at Randwick last month.

Trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes gave Brave One a barrier trial hit-out at Rosehill last week where he matched motors with Gatsby’s in a 900m heat.

In the latest TAB Fixed Odds betting, Brave One is on the third line at $5.50 behind Godolphin’s Tarpaulin at $3.40 favourite and the Chris Waller-trained Gatsby’s at $4.

Unbeaten Brave One has good tactical speed and Legh suggested jockey Jay Ford will look to take full advantage of the colt’s inside barrier in The Rosebud.

“If Brave One has to lead, we will,’’ Legh said.

“We don’t want to get trapped on the fence trying to get out. It’s in our jockey’s hands.’’

Swiftfalcon, another boom colt by Exceedance, won brilliantly at Rosehill two months ago and was described by Legh as a “proper horse”.

“He will trial soon, he isn’t far away from returning to racing,’’ Legh added.

Legh and the Hawkes stable also combine with the consistent Gitalong in the James Squire Handicap (1100m).

“Gitalong has finally drawn a barrier and he will be very hard to beat,’’ the owner said.

Also at Caulfield, Legh shares in the ownership of Buffalo River and Bankers Choice who clash in the Group 2 $300,000 Lawrence Stakes, while The Pendragon and Arkansaw Kid are in the Listed $175,000 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m).

Legh also took the opportunity to remind punters of his talented sprinter Airman from the Hawkes stable who is also getting ready for a spring carnival campaign.

“The forgotten horse is Airman,’’ Legh said. “He will also be trialling soon.

“John and the boys have not lost any confidence in this horse’s ability. We know now he doesn’t handle heavy tracks and he has had a lot of bad luck with wide barriers.

“But we are confident he will stand up and prove he is the real deal in the spring.’’

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Rosehill opener is all about quality, not quantity

Dawn Service, a $1.4 million yearling, strides out to win at Hawkesbury on August 1. Picture: Bradley Photos
Dawn Service, a $1.4 million yearling, strides out to win at Hawkesbury on August 1. Picture: Bradley Photos

There’s a lot riding on the result of the Schweppes Handicap (1300m) for three-year-olds which opens the Rosehill program.

The race has only seven runners but three of them were purchased for more than $1 million as yearlings.

First starter The Autumn Glow, trained by Chris Waller, was the most expensive with the filly knocked down for $1.8 million at the Inglis Easter Sale last year.

She is by Arrowfield Stud’s boom stallion The Autumn Sun out of Via Africa which makes her a half sister to In The Congo, winner of the 2021 Group 1 Golden Rose, defeating champion Anamoe.

Imperial Force, a stablemate of The Autumn Glow, has shown natural talent in his three starts, winning at Canterbury back in April.

A son of super sire Snitzel, Imperial Force is out of Ultimate Fever, the dam of stakes winners Sprightly Lass and Le Cordon Bleu, and cost $1.6 million at the Easter Sale.

Promising colt Dawn Service is by Coolmore’s sire sensation Justify and is the first foal out of the Zoustar mare, Sunlight, a three-time Group 1 winner of the Newmarket Handicap, William Reid Stakes and Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Dawn Service, an easy winner of a Hawkesbury maiden last start, cost $1.4 million at the Magic Millions Sale.

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She’s tough … and talented

One Aye wins at Randwick on July 27. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
One Aye wins at Randwick on July 27. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

One Aye is not only one of the best-named racehorses in training but also one of the toughest.

Trained by Barbara Joseph and her sons, Paul and Matt Jones, One Aye ($19) is contesting the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1900m).

The seven-year-old mare, raced by a syndicate of owners that includes prominent racing identity Max Whitby, is out of the Flying Spur mare, Flying First Class, which is the inspiration for her name.

One Aye, who cost only $50,000 as a yearling, has won seven races (and 13 placings) from 44 starts earning nearly $450,000.

Although she is at an age when most mares are in the breeding barn, One Aye has never been racing in better form.

In fact, One Aye has been in full training for 10 months, with 16 starts over an extended preparation that began last December, scoring wins at Randwick and in the Murrumbidgee Cup, a second placing in the Narrandera Cup, plus thirds in the Moruya Cup, Albury Mile and last start in the Forbes Cup.

“She is unbelievable,’’ Joseph said. “Everyone thinks she can’t keep going but she is racing so well.

“I thought she ran a great race last start in the Forbes Cup and we even thought about protesting as she got bumped on the turn.

“Since that run, she has done plenty of swimming and treadmill work, we don’t gallop her much, as she’s ready to go for Randwick. We think she will run very well again.’’

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Lees goes the distance with import

Top trainer Kris Lees. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
Top trainer Kris Lees. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Trainer Kris Lees is convinced emerging import Lord Of Biscay will appreciate getting out to 1400m for the TAB Handicap.

Lord Of Biscay, winner of two of his five starts in England, made his Australian debut at Rosehill four weeks ago when a luckless fifth behind Iron Man over 1200m.

“I think Lord Of Biscay found it a bit short last time,’’ the champion Newcastle trainer said.

“He didn’t have much room in the straight and should have finished closer so his run was very good under the circumstances.

“The 1400m will suit him, he’s made good progress between runs, and he’s well drawn in barrier one.’’

Lord Of Biscay is raced by Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock who also own the Lees-trained duo of Hellavadancer (Kia Ora Prague Handicap) and Ucalledit (Precise Air Handicap).

“Hellavadancer gets a track with a bit of ‘give’ in it so she gets her chance,’’ Lees said.

“Ucalledit had cardiac arrhythmia last start but he’s been freshened since and trialled nicely the other day.’’

Lees also saddles up Bubba’s Bay, the improving mare who is second-up in the Toyota Material Handling Handicap (1200m).

“She won three straight in Brisbane to close out her campaign last time in and her first-up effort (third to Fleetwood at Randwick) was very good,’’ Lees said. “She’s taken improvement from that run, too.’’

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5 YEARS AGO

Dawn Passage, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, came from near last on the turn to score an exciting win in The Rosebud at Rosehill. In a blanket finish when only about a length separated the top six finishers, Dawn Passage edged out Let It Pour and Lucicello. Dawn Passage trained on to win the Hawkesbury Guineas and Fred Best Classic at Group 3 level, and ran third in Colette’s Golden Eagle. Mystic Journey, the Tasmanian wonder mare, reeled off six consecutive wins including the Australian Guineas and All Star Mile to close out her three-year-old season before resuming with a fast finishing win over Cliff’s Edge in the Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.

10 YEARS AGO

Scissor Kick was having only his third start for trainer Paul Messara and broke through at stakes level to beat Better Land in the Listed Rosebud, run that year at Randwick. Scissor Kick then won the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes before an unlucky second to Hallowed Crown in the Golden Rose. At stud, Scissor Kick has sired 2022 The Everest winner Giga Kick. Star Rolling, ridden by Stephen Baster, led all the way and held off Spillway to win the Lawrence Stakes.

20 YEARS AGO

Jockey Mark Flaherty salutes as Regal Roller wins the 2004 JJ Liston Stakes. Picture: Andrew Maccoll
Jockey Mark Flaherty salutes as Regal Roller wins the 2004 JJ Liston Stakes. Picture: Andrew Maccoll

Regal Roller, trained by Clinton McDonald, started his spring winning streak when he led all the win to win the Liston (now Lawrence) Stakes by four lengths. He then won the Memsie Stakes, Dubai (now Rupert Steele Stakes) Cup and Toorak Handicap in quick succession before his fifth behind Savabeel in the Cox Plate. Regal Roller now has a Listed sprint race named in his honour at the Lawrence Stakes meeting.

Originally published as ‘Could be silk department’: Owner Rupert Legh’s Brave call about 2024 The Rosebud hope

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/horse-racing/nsw-racing/could-be-silk-department-owner-rupert-leghs-brave-call-about-2024-the-rosebud-hope/news-story/89e73129e8b360f857bbbc564201ecbb