LEGA EAGLE
Probably below her best last time when second in The Curragh's G1 Pretty Polly S., Michael Tabor's G1 1000 Guineas heroine Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) bounced back to her formidable best at Goodwood on Saturday when storming to success in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. Sent off the 2-1 favorite, the bay was held up towards the rear early by Wayne Lordan trapped wide but was always traveling with intent and cruised down the outer to enter the fray approaching the quarter pole. Launched on the front end passing that marker, she surged into a decisive lead and was well beyond reach as the owner's Wedding Vow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) stayed on into second, with 2 1/4 lengths the winning margin. “She's a very high-class filly who travels and has plenty of speed,” her rider commented. “She quickened up well when I asked her and battled to the line. She has everything and was unfortunate to lose out on the last two occasions, but has progressed again.”
Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR NASSAU S.-G1, £600,000, GOO, 8-1, 3yo/up, f, 9f 192yT, 2:06.04, g/f.
1–LEGATISSIMO (IRE), 124, f, 3, by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
1st Dam: Yummy Mummy (GB), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Gryada (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Grimpola (Ger), by Windwurf (Ger)
(350,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Newsells Park Stud (IRE); T-David Wachman; J-Wayne Lordan. £340,260. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Ire, 9-4-3-0, $1,154,193. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wedding Vow (Ire), 124, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Remember When (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Remember When Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £129,000.
3–Arabian Queen (Ire), 124, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Barshiba (Ire), by Barathea (Ire). O-J C Smith; B-Littleton Stud (IRE); T-David Elsworth. £64,560.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.00, 10.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Cladocera (Ger), Jazzi Top (GB), Lady of Dubai (GB), Star of Seville (GB), Bright Approach (Ire), Diamondsandrubies (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Since her authoritative victory in the May 3 Newmarket Classic, Legatissimo had missed out on two more Group 1 paydays by short-head margins, with Ballydoyle's Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) getting the better of her in both the June 5 G1 Epsom Oaks and the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh June 28. Physically capable of improvement despite having already taken part in some serious tests, she arrived in the Sussex sunshine at the top of her game and duly outclassed her rivals in a repeat of the exacta of the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. at Gowran Park Apr. 26. Anchored early as Wayne Lordan opted to track his main rivals including Diamondsandrubies, Legatissimo stayed wide and out of trouble on this course's renowned contours. Making up ground on every runner with ease in early straight, she was set alight with all dangers covered passing the quarter pole and despite running down towards the rail hit the line an emphatic winner. “She's a wonderful filly and has loads of class,” trainer David Wachman said. “She's won a Guineas and won a Nassau, so you can't say she's been that unlucky. She has a very high cruising speed and quickens well off it. Ten furlongs or a mile is made for her. She has a lot of options, she could go for the G1 Matron S. [at Leopardstown Sept. 12], she could go anywhere, there's plenty of good races for those fillies and mares. I'll speak to the owners and we'll see. She's a good filly and I suppose the good ones keep improving.”
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