King’s Legacy makes strong early impression

Cover image courtesy Coolmore Australia

Pedigree, type, race record… King’s Legacy pretty much has all of the bases covered. So, it should come as no surprise that his weanlings were well sought-after at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, which was held at Riverside Stables earlier this month.

After withdrawals, King’s Legacy had 18 weanlings go through the ring. All bar three sold, with his progeny grossing $930,500 at an average of $62,033.

The top-seller was Lot 296 - a colt out of the winning Foxwedge mare Tantivy, who was consigned under the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds Dispersal Sale. He was knocked down to Hermitage Thoroughbreds for $140,000.

King’s Legacy had one other weanling top $100,000, that being Lot 177 - a filly from the former stakes-winning 2-year-old Paprika (General Nediym). Offered by Coolmore Stud, the filly was bought by well-known Singaporean owner Jayven See for $110,000.

Profile of a star

King’s Legacy has plenty of strings to his bow. He is by the great sire of sires Redoute’s Choice, from the stakes-performing Hussonet (USA) mare Breakfast In Bed, making him closely related to Not A Single Doubt, from the family of Snippets.

He delivered on the promise of that exceptional pedigree in the sale ring when secured for $1.4 million from the 2019 Magic Millions Yearling Sale by James Harron, from the draft of Segenhoe Stud.

Then he delivered once again on the track, first taking out the G3 BRC BJ McLachlan S. before returning in the autumn to collect the G1 Sires' Produce S. and G1 Champagne S. double.

The demand, as expected, for a good-looking precocious son of a superstar sire was exceptionally strong from the outset of his announcement to Coolmore, where he covered a staggering 212 mares over his debut season at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST). He stands the current season for $27,500 (inc GST).

Now he moves onto his next step as a sire, with another big draft heading through the ring at this week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. No less than fourteen weanlings by King’s Legacy will go through the ring, with four of those consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds.

Bhima principal Mike Fleming said King’s Legacy’s good start is to be expected.

“They’re very much in the mould of that breed. They’ve got quality about them, the majority of them have got good bone, they’re well-muscled, they’re well-balanced, they carry themselves well and they’re very athletic, which you expect from that sireline,” Fleming told TDN AusNZ.

“His results in Sydney were good and that bodes well for this week.

“His weanlings look like they’re going to develop into a proper product next year when they’re yearlings.”

“He’s a horse with a huge pedigree that’s served a good book of mares his first couple of years, so he’s got a very good chance of making it at stud,” Fleming added.

“We foaled quite a few down on the farm last foaling season and we’ve been happy with them all the way through, really. It’s been interesting to see how they’ve developed and the horses that they’re going to turn into.

“He’s certainly going to be a sire that, rolling into next year’s yearling sales, will be highly sought-after, given his pedigree and what he did on the track.”

A quartet of quality weanlings

Bhima will offer two colts and two fillies at Bundall by King’s Legacy.

Lot 27 is a filly from the winning Mossman mare Zero Tolerance, and she herself is a half-sister to the stakes winners Bonaichi (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) and Prima Nova (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). The former has thrown the Listed scorer Extra Choice (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice).

The filly’s grandam is the former smart mare Bonanova (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) - a winner of the G1 Emirates S. in 1999.

Bhima’s other filly is Lot 182 and she is out of Flying Siren (Flying Spur) - a half-sister to the Group 2 victor Catapulted (Catbird). Stakes winners that are both now sires, Jukebox and Bruckner, also feature on this filly’s page.

Lot 108 is a colt from Colosimo (Foxwedge), making the weanling a half-brother to the stakes-performing 2-year-old Gangitano (Written By).

And Lot 271 is a colt out of Mansera (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) and she is a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Manighar (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and the Group 3 victress Minatlya (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).

“They’re all nice, balanced, well-muscled horses that will suit the Australian market,” Fleming explained.

“You would think his progeny will be up and going at two, he was himself. There’s no reason to suggest they won’t follow in their father’s footsteps.”

Wise singing from same songbook

Prominent breeder-vendor-owner Robyn Wise is also a big believer in King’s Legacy. She bought one of his colts (Lot 64) at this year’s Inglis Australian Weanling Sale and will offer a King’s Legacy filly (Lot 124) this week.

“I was really impressed with his stock that I saw in Sydney and was very keen to buy one,” Wise told TDN AusNZ.

“King’s Legacy is a lovely type and was a very good colt.”

Wise paid $55,000 for the colt, which was consigned by Tyreel Stud. He is from the five-time winner Honey Cara (Mossman) and she is a half-sister to Group 2 scorer Amelie’s Star (Testa Rossa).

The colt’s half-sister, Hasty Honey (Epaulette), was fifth on debut in the Listed Woodlands S. at Scone on Saturday.

“I liked his balance, I liked the way he moved, I thought he was a great colour and I thought that he had thrown enough to the stallion; King’s Legacy is a great-looking horse,” Wise explained.

“He was very well-balanced and very correct.”

The filly she will offer is the first foal of the six-time winner (Deep) Euphoria (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).

Her second dam, Viennese Waltz (Danehill {USA}), was unplaced and is a sister to the Listed winner Coy (Ire) and a half-sister to the Listed victor Il Warrd (Ire) (Pivotal (GB}).

“She’s a very well-bred filly with plenty of scope,” said Wise.