A dual Group I winning juvenile by the mighty Redoute’s Choice, King’s Legacy is on the board with his first stakes-winner after talented filly Steel Trap scored a dominant win in the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Trained by the Clarken / Macgillivray training partnership and ridden by Jamie Melham, Steel Trap was a hot favourite for this assignment after posting stakes placings at her previous two starts.
She settled behind the speed on the fence and was tenacious to the line running down smart colt Brave Design, who was second at his previous start to Vinrock in the Group II VRC Sires Produce Stakes.
Steel Trap forged clear to win by two lengths and has the overall record of two wins and two placings form five starts with earnings topping $180,000.
“She’s a nice horse and one day she will want further, but she doesn’t need it yet,” said Jamie Melham.
“At the 200m I was really confident as I know the further she goes the better she gets. She doesn’t have a sharp turn of foot, but she just keeps building and building.”
A $30,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase for Angas River Contractors Pty Ltd from the Phoenix Broodmare Farm draft, Steel Trap is the first foal of Lochita, a winning Lonhro grand-daughter of dual Group I winner Arborea.
“She's a bloody beauty. Group 3 winner, you know and Group placed. It's pretty cool,” said co-trainer Dan Clarken.
“Things didn't go to plan when she made her debut, but we always knew she had ability.
“We really wanted to get her up and get her going so we could target the carnival.
“She's become quite valuable now. We'll have to regroup and see what we're going to do with her. I personally would like to put her away and get her ready for a three-year-old race in the spring.”
Steel Trap is the first stakes-winner among four winners King’s Legacy, who is also the sire of New Zealand trained stakes horses Queen’s Evidence and Born to be Royal.
King’s Legacy stands at a fee of $16,500 this spring at Coolmore.
