Written by Paul Vettise
Jockey Jeff Penza was in sublime form at Newcastle to post a Group 3 treble with Madam Legend (I Am Invincible) in the Tibbie S., Great House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Newcastle Gold Cup and Ashman (Magnus) in the Cameron H.
Penza firstly guided Madam Legend to a front-running victory and an appropriate one as the fillies and mares’ feature that was sponsored by Yarraman Park Stud, home of her prolific sire.
The Les Bridge-trained mare had been successful in two of her first three appearances since returning from a break and even the outside barrier on Friday couldn’t stop her from adding a maiden stakes success to a rich pedigree.
Madam Legend poured on the early pace from the widest gate to make the running for rider Jeff Penza and she was idling along 400 metres from home.
Jockey Jeff Penza rode a Group 3 treble at Newcastle
Tenacious to the end
She poured the pressure on her rivals on straightening when she dashed clear and stayed on gallantly to have a short-head on Mirra Vision (Lonhro) at the post.
“She did it the hard way and had to work to get across and it wasn’t ideal. She did the right thing and came right back underneath me and controlled it,” Penza said.
“I let her stride a bit around the turn and it was a super effort down the straight. I could feel them coming at her and she dug deep.
“She’s a sweet mare to ride and it was a good effort, she’s very honest and you couldn’t ask any more from her.”
Madam Legend was a $250,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale buy for Carmel Size on behalf of Legend Racing. The mare was offered by breeder Canning Downs with her unraced dam Mithila (Encosta De Lago) a three-quarter sister to four-time Group 1 winner and Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice.
Madam Legend pictured as a yearling
Great Cup result
Penza produced another copybook ride aboard the Chris Waller-trained Great House in the Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup. The rising staying star was up to the sternest challenge of his career when he relished the step up to 2300 metres.
The 5-year-old lobbed along in midfield and one off the fence before moving into contention near the turn and took control 250 metres from home.
“It was a nit muddling mid-race and I got three-wide on the turn and he was very strong underneath me,” Penza said.
Great House proved a touch too good for Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) and the winner’s stablemate No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) took third money.
Crowning glory
Penza’s red-letter day was completed in the Australian Bloodstock Cameron H. by the Kim Waugh-trained Ashman, who was never headed on his way to the biggest success of his career.
“He went harder than I wanted and I had to fight him a bit, but he was rock-hard fit and fought on well,” Penza said.
Ashman has now won two of his five starts since transferring from Matthew Dunn’s stable to Waugh and was coming off a seventh placing at Randwick, although he did finish less than 2l off the winner.
Ashman
“He’s so brave and I’ve only had the horse this preparation. I said to Jeff to go quickly early and then he’ll come back and he’ll be fighting out the finish, he’s really stepped up,” Waugh said.
Last season’s G1 Rosehill Guineas runner-up Sky Lab (Real Impact {Jpn}) produced a strong second-up performance to finish runner-up and there was also a ton of merit in the run of Duais (Shamus Award) for third in her first appearance since claiming the G1 Queensland Oaks.
