Classique Legend’s half-sister I Am Famous continues upward spiral with determined all-the-way victory at Rosehill

A half-sister to Everest winner Classique Legend, I Am Famous is living up to her $2 million yearling price tag with a perfect three from three this campaign.

I Am Famous and Kerrin McEvoy make it a hat-trick of wins at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

I Am Famous, the half-sister to The Everest winner Classique Legend, highlighted her own considerable talent when she completed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained mare hadn’t won a race before this preparation but has been on an upward spiral in recent weeks and produced another polished performance on home turf.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy delivered a perfectly judged frontrunning steer to get the blue blood mare home in the Congratulations Zac Lloyd Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).

I Am Famous ($5) was able to show a strong kick to edge out the James Cummings-trained Nanshe ($3.70) by a long neck with Kris Lees’ Hellavadancer ($2.80 fav) a further 1¼ lengths away.

“Chris has been patient with her and he is picking the fruits of that patience now,” McEvoy said.

I Am Famous claims victory in a heart-stopping finish! 🏇🏼💨 @[e-mail]/rR5wVsec9O

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“She is coming into her own.

“I was a little bit of worried because she has been in and scratched a couple of times and is a big fresh girl, I thought she had a bit of time between runs but Chris had her spot on.”

It took a bid of $2 million to purchase I Am Famous at the 2022 Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale but connections have had to be patient to see her live up to that price tag on the track.

I Am Famous had placed just once in five starts heading into this preparation before putting it together to rattle off three straights wins.

“Obviously the family takes a bit of time and that’s what has given us the confidence not to panic when she was showing form early,” Waller said.

“We just had to sit tight because the family will get better with time.”

I Am Famous knocked off the maiden at Warwick Farm first-up this preparation and backed up that effort at Hawkesbury leading into her first city victory.

“A bit of confidence is what we were hoping for and that’s what she has found,” Waller said.

“Kerrin has worked with her nicely the past two starts.

“She wasn’t leading and winning three starts ago but she is now and she was comfortable.

“That was Kerrin’s instructions today, to let her be where she is comfortable and he is a great frontrunning rider.”

Waller believes I Am Famous should be able to reach stakes grades sometime in the future but is in no mood to rush the mare and will contemplate sending her for a spell.

Originally published as Classique Legend’s half-sister I Am Famous continues upward spiral with determined all-the-way victory at Rosehill