6 Win Saturday - Legal Binding Lethal

Establishing a terrific race record, Legally Binding (4 g Exceedance – Legal Eagle, by More Than Ready) won the $40,000 Helston & Associates Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton. 

Having recorded back-to-back wins last season as a three-year-old, Legally Binding resumed with two seconds this time in, rated a top three chance, and extended his record to three wins and two seconds from six starts.

Ridden by Opie Bosson ONZM, Legally Binding assumed the lead from barrier four before steadying to trail, angled clear entering the home straight, and quickened to a winning advantage when asked to extend at the 200m.

It was a polished performance in the saddle by Bosson, who commenced his career as an apprentice with Te Akau, has ridden 99 Group One winners, and continues outstanding form and has taken an early lead in the Jockeys' Premiership.

“It was another great ride from Opie and he’s definitely in the zone today,” said assistant trainer Hunter Durrant, who manages the horses and team at the Te Akau stables at Riccarton.

“He was due a win after running two good races for second, and good to see him get the result today.

“I think we’ll see him winning again, hopefully over the (Cup Week: Nov. 8, 12, 15) carnival, and a year down the track I think he’ll be a really nice horse.”

On Good4 footing, Legally Binding ran 1200 metres in 1:07.5 and justified favouritism to pay $3.70 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a deserved win and he was really well ridden by Opie,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“He’d been building to that win and he’ll be a good chance over Cup Week in some nice races, as well.

"The owners have been patient with him. He didn’t have a lot of luck in the autumn, with a few things going wrong, but they should continue to be rewarded during this preparation. He's going very well.”

Legally Binding was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $90,000, from the draft of Edinglassie Thoroughbreds, at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and owned by Te Akau Eagle Eyed Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Legally Binding is from the first crop of Exceedance, a Group One winning three-year-old in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, whose dam, Bonnie Mac (Thorn Park), was a stakes' winner over 1200 metres that won five times to 1400 metres.

A really well put together horse, by a young sire son of Champion Sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill), Legally Binding has legendary sires Danehill and Sir Tristram as his second and third dam sires, respectively, which adds to a distaff bloodline among the best. 

Legally Binding carries a Danehill cross as the sire of Exceed and Excel, and sire of grand-dam Legal Consent.

The dam side of pedigree is particularly rich. Incredibly, world renowned dam-sire More Than Ready (Southern Halo) is the best sire of winners globally.

Passing in 2022, aged 25, More Than Ready had been Champion Sire in both hemispheres, proving an outstanding sire of sires and going from strength-to-strength as a broodmare sire.

“He had great presence when we bought him as a yearling and a double up of Danehill in his bloodlines,” Ellis said.

“He was an athletic colt, furnished beautifully to remain that way, and he’s shaping up to be a really good sprinter.

“It’s a heck of pedigree, when you delve into it, and it’s produced a really good horse for the owners.

“I’m thrilled for Opie, too. He’s a great friend, been through his ups and downs as a jockey which is an incredibly hard profession, but he's really dedicated to his fitness now, and it’s showing on race day.

“He’s only one win off 100 Group One wins, a feat achieved by a rare few, and he leads the jockey premiership this season which is a great reward for the time and effort he’s putting in."

Legally Binding was strapped by Amelia Southworth.

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz