Classic aspirations for impressive Canberra Legend

Canberra Legend jumped into the Classic picture on Wednesday with an impressive success for K K Ho and James Ferguson in the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

Also impressive when winning his debut by a wide margin at Newcastle in February, Canberra Legend overcame inexperience in the Feilden to hold his position under Daniel Muscutt before hitting top stride to run down the leader Kolsai and win going away.

Now unbeaten in two starts, the son of Australia was cut into 20-1 for the Derby.

“We’ve got a lot of options ahead of us and it very exciting to have a horse of this calibre for his owner who has been with me since I started,” said James Ferguson. “Canberra Legend is in both the Dante and the Derby. I think we have to see how he comes out of the race and the Guineas is not that far away. He looks like he wants further but I have to talk to the owner first.

“I was delighted how professional he was when the gates opened. From that wide draw he had every opportunity to be keen and free but he settled into the race really well. I thought he was given a lovely ride and from the jockey’s action it looked like he was pretty happy the whole way so I am thrilled.

Another high-class performer raised by Derek Veitch’s Ringfort Stud, who bred him with Paul Hancock, Canberra Legend was bought as a yearling by Avenue Bloodstock for 350,000gns from pinhooker Flash Conroy of Glenvale Stud at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale.

He becomes the 33rd stakes winner for Coolmore’s Australia and is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Rocana, whose first foal Youth Spirit won the 2021 Group Three Chester Vase.