A full sister to the I Am Invincible two year-old colt that topped the NZB Ready to Run Sale for a record breaking $1.65million, talented mare Irish Legacy delivered an impressive fresh-up victory in New Zealand on Saturday for Roger James and Robert Wellwood.
Irish Legacy, a daughter of multiple Australian Group I winning mare Shillelagh, made her four-year-old debut at Ellerslie on Saturday, after four appearances last term included a third placing in the Group III Mufhasa Stakes (1200m).
Backed into odds-on favouritism in the TAB 1200, Irish Legacy was patiently handled by Ryan Elliot early, easing into a midfield position on the back of her younger stablemate Osteria. A wall of horses were in front of the mare nearing the 250m, but Elliot quickly reverted to the inside and once she found clear air, Irish Legacy put the field away comfortably.
Wellwood was rapt with the performance, with the ultimate goal to boost her black-type record for Christopher Grace, who bred and co-owns the blue-blooded mare that has two wins from five starts.
“She was very impressive, maturity has been a big thing for her both physically and mentally,” he said. “She’s not the easiest filly, but she’s certainly grown up a lot.
“She got a bit of black-type at three so clearly the ability was there, but to see her sprint and put them away as easily as she did yesterday, it was a nice statement.
“I think we’ll work through the grades, but she’s by I Am Invincible out of a Group One winner, so the more black-type we can get, the better. She has been retained by her breeder, so we want to find some black-type at some point.”
Irish Legacy is the first foal of Shillelagh, whose two year-old colt produced the fastest breeze up at the NZB Ready to Run and was subsequently bought by David Ellis.
