Legarto’s full sister impressive on debut
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso look to have yet another high-class female on their hands with Legarto’s little sister Latoya making an impressive winning debut at Ruakaka on Saturday.
The two-year-old Proisir filly had looked good when winning a trial at Avondale last month and went into her first-up performance as a $3.30 favourite off the back of that performance and fair few whispers around her potential.
Punters earned their money the hard way as rider Jasmine Fawcett got parked out three wide throughout the 1200m contest.
Fawcett didn’t panic and calmly moved the filly to the front rounding the home bend, where she found a strong kick to push past pacemaker Fraudster and hold out all chasers with something in hand by just under a length at the line.
The Kelsos were watching on from their Matamata home and Ken admitted he had a little crisis of confidence halfway down the straight when he saw the challengers rushing at his charge.
“I was quite surprised how short she was, even with the trial win, while the draw wasn’t that good, “ Kelso said.
“Her work had been good and she really is a little professional, but I did think we were in trouble in the straight and the others might get to her, but when Jasmine gave her a flick with the whip she grabbed the bit again.
“We will get her home now and see how she does but our initial thoughts were to give her a short break now and then bring her back to look at some of those good stakes races for the fillies in the spring.”
Fawcett had been confident before the race and confirmed the filly rounded off the performance with ease.
“She jumped really well and I’d thought I’d sit where I was rather than use her up or pull her back to find a position,” she said.
“She relaxed beautifully there and she had the ability to get the job done.”
Bred and raced by Warwick Jeffries, Latoya is the final foal of Towkay mare Geordie Girl. Her extended family includes outstanding racemare Legarto who won $3.6 million in a storied career that featured five Group One wins, including the 2023 Australian Guineas (1600m), while stakes winners Kekova and Rapid Kay also feature.
