May 30, 2016
There was plenty of speed signed on in the Melair Stakes at SA on Saturday afternoon but that can lead to inordinate fractions and Princess Legion was in the best position to capitalize, with an inside post leading to a going-away win by 1.5-lengths as the close second choice in wagering. From the most recent crop of exceptional bred sire Legion, she was unable to gain any major ground in the Grade II GP Oaks but found this much easier and rallied to victory inside; her third in five careers starts that pushed her earnings close to the $150.000 mark in the process.
As expected, favourite Heart Nebulae (*2.00) broke best in the Melair and took a brief lead before Zenna The Ruler (2.60) rushed up from the farthest gate and sprinted clear by nearly a length, with Princess Legion (2.20) holding well along the fence in third. An opening split of 23.82 was good for the distance and the leader was clear and down to the rail around the first turn but by the time she hit the backstretch, she was more than four-lengths in front and almost in a race of her own, with Zahonita (4.70) angling outside of Heart Nebulae to make sure she was not caught in behind. Zenna The Ruler was in complete control as Princess Legion came up the rail into second but a second fraction of 23.87 was quite quick and the field slowly started to inch forward into the far turn. With a rush, four-lengths became three-, then two- and through six-furlongs in 1:11.42, Zenna The Ruler was hard pressed to stave off Princess Legion inside and Heart Nebulae outside and those two took command with just over a furlong to the wire. Princess Legion got the perfect inside run and catapulted to the front and in the end, the favourite had no response as Heart Nebulae wound up second-best, 1.5-lengths in arrears. Zenna The Ruler tired noticeably to finish in third while Zahonita just held fourth over Saw The 1st Work Wow (10.55), who broke last at long odds and never recovered.
Princess Legion, way too far back in the GP Oaks, got the jump on her rivals with an inside run and took command of the Melair Stakes at the head of the lane en route to her third career win and first in stakes company. A race like the Summertime Oaks might come up a bit too quickly for her but the IND Oaks could be perfect for her with others in the division opting for bigger races at BEL, DEL and WO despite a solid $200.000 purse on offer.
Congratulations goes out to owner Aml Racing and their three-year-old filly Princess Legion, a sharp off-the-pace winner of the Melair Stakes at SA!
Prediction Heart Nebulae / Zenna The Ruler / Zahonita
Winner Princess Legion
Three-year-old gray filly
Legion-Thats Daunting (Sport Gemini)
Owner Aml Racing
Time 23.82, 47.69, 1:11.42, 1:41.69
Overall
Princess Legion 2.20 sat inside, far turn speed, clear late
Heart Nebulae *2.00 broke sharp, stalked, good second
Zenna The Ruler 2.60 set wicked pace, tired in lane
Zahonita 4.70 no major factor
Saw The 1st Work Wow 10.55 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
