3 Win Trans-Tasman Thursday - Scottie's Legacy Super

2 January, 2025

3 Win Trans-Tasman Thursday - Scottie's Legacy Super


Continuing really good form, Scottie’s Legacy (4 m Almanzor – Kay’s Legacy, by Zabeel) won the A$35,000 United Petroleum Benchmark 58 1950 metres on 2 January at Yarra Valley (Victoria).

Given a gun ride when winning by two lengths in the Maiden 1600 metres on 24 November at Kilmore, Scottie’s Legacy finished strongly for second in the Benchmark 64 2000 metres on 11 December at Mornington, and appeared ideally drawn (4) to pose a top three chance.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Logan Bates (a2), recording his second win on the programme, Scottie’s Legacy bided her time three back on the outer before sweeping into proceedings around the home turn and while finishing strongly she dug in to hold late closer The Ballet Dancer (Rock ‘N’ Pop) at bay.

“I just had to ride her where she was comfortable, let her get through the gears and give her the best chance,” Bates said.

“She’s got a bit of upside, because she still doesn’t know what she’s doing and started wobbling about after she hit the front.

"Once she knuckles down and finishes the race off, she’ll be quite exciting for the team.”

On Good3 footing, Scottie’s Legacy ran 1950 metres in 2:01.6 and justified the $1.50 favouritism by a short half head.

“It was a good effort to win and I have to thank the owners for their patience and they’re starting to be rewarded with some good performances,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“She looks a really nice staying mare and we’ll attempt to get her up over 2400 metres. 

“If we can get her further through the grades this season, I think, as a more mature five-year-old mare, we’ll be able to target some nice staying races.”

On course, Te Akau Australia assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said: “Mark and I both think that she can challenge Metropolitan grade, but she has had a long build up after a year off when she suffered a tendon injury. 

“It’s been great to get two wins during this prep and she hasn’t run a bad race.”

Owned by the Te Akau Legacy of Love Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Scottie’s Legacy is from a family well known to Te Akau, through the deeds of Alert (Zabeel), Rise ‘N’ Shine (Zabeel), and Wide Awake (Savabeel), who were bought and trained by Te Akau to win eight races between them.

The sire of Scottie’s Legacy, Almanzor (Wootton Bassett), standing at Cambridge Stud, is also the sire of Te Akau trained mare Mehzebeen, who recorded a winning double in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) during Cup Week in November at Riccarton. She has now arrived at Te Akau's Cranbourne base as she hunts Australian black type.

Scottie's Legacy is born on the same Almanzor/Zabeel cross as Mehzebeen, and having the leading New Zealand sire of stakes' winners, Zabeel (Sir Tristram), is a major influence in the pedigrees of so many great staying thoroughbreds.

Her grand-dam Kay’s Awake was an impressive winner during her career of six wins, at the time regarded as one of the best race mares over the past decade in New Zealand, placing twice behind multiple Group One winners Darci Brahma (Danehill) and Seachange (Cape Cross). 

Kay’s Awake also proved herself at stud, leaving six individual winners of 17 races, including Australian stakes' winner Rise At Dawn (Almanzor). 

“It’s a family we’ve always really liked and already had success with,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM.

“The mares in the family have left really nice foals and Scottie’s Legacy is putting together a good record, with two wins, two seconds, and a third, from only five starts.

“Mark (Walker) likes her as a progressive staying type mare, which are not easy to come by, but it is certainly rewarding if you have a good one.”

Scottie’s Legacy has a bloodline cross through her sire-lines to Champion Sire Nureyev (Northern Dancer), a racehorse with immense turn of foot, Champion French 3YO, and sire of more than 20 champions.

Scottie’s Legacy was strapped by Adrian Hug. 


Photo credit - Getty Images


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