Lightly raced King’s Legacy gelding Whatalegacy has been off the scene for nearly a year, but the half-brother to G1 winner Benedetta made a glowing impression at Canterbury on Wednesday when returning to win as hot favourite with James McDonald in the saddle.
Trained by Bjorn Baker, Whatalegacy won his first two starts in August and September last year before bumping into subsequent stakes-winner Miss Freelove when second at Warwick Farm in October.
On the sidelines since then, Whatalegacy tuned up with a couple of recent trials and was ready to fire in the 1100m Benchmark 72 event.
He led for home and was not for catching, going on to win by nearly two lengths to take his overall record to three wins and a second from four starts with prizemoney in excess of $90,000.
McDonald has ridden Whatalegacy in both trials this time back in and was fully expecting him to run well.
“He’s a beautiful actioned horse and he’s actually calmed down a notch since the trials which was pleasant to see,” he said.
“He got into a lovely rhythm, bowled along nicely and quickened off a good tempo. He ticked off the 1100m box and I’m sure he’ll go through his grades rapidly.”
A $160,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock from the Mill Park draft, Whatalegacy was bred by South Australian breeders Brenton and Liz Parker, who have retained small interest in the gelding , who runs for a big group of stable clients.
He is a half-brother to Group I winner Benedetta and also Group II placed Whatafox and stakes-placed Sunset Dreaming being one of five winners from five foals to race from Group II placed Domesday mare Whatalovelyday.
Whatalovelyday has changed hands a few times, most recently when offered at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale this year where she was bought by Merricks Station / Matt Houldsworth / Group 1 Bloodstock for $325,000.
At the same sale, her Group I winning daughter Benedetta sold for $1.9million to Yulong.
Whatalovelyday has a yearling colt by Zoustar and is due to foal to Harry Angel (IRE).
A dual Group I winning son of Redoute’s Choice, King’s Legacy is a value option on the Coolmore roster this spring at $11,000 and has already sired 11 winners this season.
