Legarto (NZ) Takes the Spoils in an Exceptional NZB Filly of the Year Crop

Throughout a proud history spanning more than 50 years, the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series has repeatedly unveiled superstars of the racetrack and the breeding barn. But the 2022-23 edition of the series turned out to be one for the ages, with three different fillies going on to win Group One races in either Sydney or Melbourne this autumn.

At the end of the exciting 11-race series, the name added to the honour roll as the 51st Filly of the Year was the exceptional Legarto (NZ) (Proisir).

It was a brief Filly of the Year campaign for the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained filly, whose involvement was limited to three races between Labour Weekend and Boxing Day. But she was a super-impressive winner of all three, racking up a total of 26 points that put her out of the reach of any rival through the remainder of the series.

Legarto’s Filly of the Year Series debut came in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa on October 22, where she roared home from second-last to score a stunning win by an ever-widening margin of three lengths.

That set her up for the prestigious Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, which produced more of the same. After settling in third-last, rider Ryan Elliot let her rip in the straight and she careered away to score by four and three-quarter lengths.

Next came the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day, in which Legarto started as a $1.10 favourite. Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) gave her an almighty scare by stealing a break of 10 lengths rounding the home turn, but Legarto reeled her in down the long Pukekohe straight and scored again.

But perhaps her finest moment came in early March, when Legarto became the first ever New Zealand-trained winner of the prestigious A$1m Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Hopelessly blocked on more than one occasion in the straight, jockey Michael Dee eventually found a way through and Legarto exploded, coming from nowhere to score a dazzling win.

“She’s just an amazing filly,” Ken Kelso said. “She does things other horses can’t do. She’s pretty special.”

Legarto was bought for $90,000 by part-owners Philip and Catherine Brown’s Ancroft Stud at Karaka 2021, where she was offered by Highline Thoroughbreds in Book 2.

From seven starts, Legarto has won six races and more than $1m in prize-money for her syndicate of 12 owners.

Among her many accolades is the valuable title of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, which also earns her connections $50,000 in bonus cheques including $10,000 for her breeder (Warwick Jeffries), $10,000 for her trainers and $30,000 for her owners.

The second placegetter on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series leaderboard was Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), who finished with a total of 17 points to her name and would have been a headline act in her own right in many other years.

After playing a supporting role with placings in the Group Two Lowland Stakes (2100m) and Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), the Jim Wallace-trained filly went to a new level with a commanding three-length romp in the 11th and final leg of the series – last month’s Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.

But that was only the beginning of the amazing ride Pennyweka provided for more than 70 owners in the Galloping Wekas Jazweka Syndicate. She then crossed the Tasman and became only the third filly in history to win both the New Zealand Oaks and the A$1m Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick. Pennyweka’s ever-improving 10-start career has now produced three wins, four placings and more than A$1m in stakes.

But that is still not all. This year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year points table also featured Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), who picked up 9.5 points with a five-length romp in the Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and a third placing behind Legarto in the Soliloquy Stakes.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained filly’s biggest accomplishments came outside the boundaries of the Filly of the Year Series. She won three other black-type races on New Zealand soil, including the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and a rare defeat of older horses at weight-for-age in the Group One Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m).

Then she travelled to Sydney for a one-race mission and was a class above the best they could muster, blowing away her rivals in the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) by more than three lengths.

Prowess was a $230,000 purchase by James and Wellwood from Hallmark Stud’s draft at Karaka 2021. She has had nine starts for seven wins and two placings, earning more than A$1.2 million for an ownership group headed by the Skipper family.

“I’ve thought for a long time that she could be the best I’ve trained,” James said. “She is a superstar, this filly. She’s an absolute gem. I’ve had some lovely horses over the years, but this filly does special things. The world is her oyster.”

Others who made their mark during the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series included Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended), who ended up in third place with 14 points. She scored impressive wins in the Group Two Royal Stakes (2000m) and the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m).

Polygon also acquitted herself admirably in Sydney. Although she finished only seventh in the Vinery Stud Stakes, she crossed the finish line a mere 0.9 lengths away from second place.

Attention now turns to the class of 2023-24, who will have a hard act to follow. Next season’s edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series is set to kick off with the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September.