Legatissimo completes Guineas double for Tabor, Moore

Not even in the picture for the One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) before last

Sunday, Legatissimo (Danehill Dancer) proved that a week can be a long time in

racing as she capped a stellar weekend for Michael Tabor and Ryan Moore at

Newmarket.

Earning the right to be here only after winning last Sunday's Victor

McCalmont Memorial S. at Gowran Park, the 13-2 shot proved up to the quick

turnaround to complete an Irish domination of both Guineas and a classic double

for her main owner and jockey. Delivered from rear to overhaul the 9-2 favorite

and compatriot Lucida (Shamardal) in the last 100 yards, the bay asserted for a

three-quarters-of-a-length success under Coolmore's new number one.

There were shades of Kieren Fallon in the achievement, as that rider had also

pulled off the Guineas double on Footstepsinthesand and Virginia Waters in his

first year in the job in 2005.

"They went a good gallop and I was always confident," Moore said. "She stayed

really well in the last furlong and she'll get further. She's a very handy filly

and she loved the quick ground."

Introduced over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in July, Legatissimo offered

no clear signal that she was a Guineas winner in the making when beating only

one rival in sixth on that occasion. Sent off at 12-1 for an often-informative

fillies' maiden over that trip at the Galway festival at the end of the month,

the David Wachman trainee took a significant stride in the right direction to

win from the likes of the subsequent Fillies' Mile (Eng-G1) heroine Together

Forever (Galileo). Second to the Silver Flash S. (Ire-G3) winner and eventual

Prix Marcel Boussac (Fr-G1) third Jack Naylor (Champs Elysees) in the Curragh's

Flame of Tara S. over this trip at the end of August, she again had Together

Forever behind in third and entered winter quarters a genuine classic hopeful.

That tag seemed to disappear when she could manage only fourth in the

Leopardstown One Thousand Guineas Trial (Ire-G3) over seven furlongs on testing

ground April 12, but Legatissimo bounced back a fortnight later to register an

authoritative score over an extended nine-furlong trip in Gowran Park's Victor

McCalmont Memorial.

With the proven mare Euphrasia (Windsor Knot) and the talented four-year-old

Carla Bianca (Dansili) well adrift there, trainer David Wachman's confidence was

restored and she was sent to Newmarket to attempt to fill the void left by the

absence of Ballydoyle's longtime antepost favorite Found (Galileo). Not rushed

early, she was shuffled towards the rear racing against the stand's rail with

Lucida initially next to her as Tiggy Wiggy (Kodiac) displayed a fair measure of

her potent speed up front.

As Kevin Manning took Lucida toward the middle of the track in an attempt to

find a clear passage, Moore weaved Legatissimo between rivals who were starting

to pay for laying closer to Tiggy Wiggy. Helped by the cutaway as the false rail

ended, she pursued Lucida, who had gained the lead from the Hannon filly

approaching the furlong marker, and ground her into submission as her stamina

kicked in during the last 100 yards.

For Wachman, who was saddling a first British classic winner, the result was

vindication for an unconventional ploy.

"Gowran was like a bit of work, so although we were taking a chance coming

here so soon after, it worked," he said. "I knew that if it didn't come too

quick, we definitely had a shout and she's a lovely, big, scopey filly. She was

very good last year, but a bit weak and we always held her in high regard. We

went to Leopardstown and she was beaten in very soft ground and didn't perform,

so we were left scratching our heads a bit but she won very well last week.

"I was not worried about coming down in trip; we were just taking a chance

running her a week after her stakes race. She'll go further, so we'll have

plenty of options. She got home well and we'll see how she is, as she's had

three runs in three weeks and the owners have a lot of fillies for Epsom. She's

in everything, so we'll take it one step at a time. Her dam is a full sister to

Fame and Glory, so she should get a trip."

Her jockey was backing up that impression, although he appeared lukewarm on

the topic of the 1 1/2-mile trip of the Oaks (Eng-G1).

"They went a proper gallop; she's got plenty of speed, but she really got up

the hill well," he said. "I wouldn't be sure she'd necessarily want a mile and a

half, but I think she'll go further."

Moore also paid tribute to Legatissimo's regular partner Wayne Lordan and

added, "I was speaking to Wayne and he said she can be little bit keen in

stages, but that when you get her into a rhythm she settles good and she did

today."

Lucida's trainer Jim Bolger was taking defeat on the chin afterwards.

"There are no excuses. I'd have to be very happy with Lucida," he commented.

"Her next run is more than likely to be the Coronation S. ([Eng-G1] at Royal

Ascot June 19], but there is a possibility of the Irish One Thousand Guineas

([Ire-G1] May 24) at the Curragh in the meantime.

"Kevin said she ran her heart out -- he was very happy with her. He thought

he had it put to bed at 7 1/2 furlongs, but the other one came and got by her

near the line. Nine years out of 10, that run would have been good enough to

win."

Manning added, "She stumbled out of the stalls and jumped a little bit to the

right, but she traveled into the race quite well and there are no real excuses."

Tiggy Wiggy's rider Richard Hughes told PA Sport, "We've had a go and I'm

only third because she's so good. You can argue that she stays, but she's not as

effective over a mile. We used her speed over six and it would be unfair to her

to keep trying over a mile."

As previously mentioned, Legatissimo's dam is a full sister to Fame and

Glory, who counted the Irish Derby (Ire-G1) and Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-G1) among

his five Group 1 wins.

Also Sunday, Moore guided the progressive Bragging (Exchange Rate) to a

breakthrough win in the Dahlia (Eng-G2).

Kept to handicaps after her maiden win over an extended mile at Windsor last

May, Bragging followed a second over that trip at Nottingham the following month

with smooth wins over seven furlongs at Newmarket in July and at York's Ebor

meeting in August. Second to Kiyoshi (Dubawi) when sent into black-type company

for the first time in the Sceptre S. (Eng-G3) again at seven at Doncaster's St

Leger festival in September, the homebred looked in need of a step up in trip

there and arrived fresh off a winter break to test that theory in the

nine-furlong Dahlia.

Tracking the early leaders tucked away in midpack early, the bay responded to

Moore's drive to wear down yet another major Luca Cumani improver in Kleo (Kavafi)

in the last 100 yards and provide Sir Michael Stoute with a sixth renewal.

"She got a bit messed around at some stages and got a little bit outpaced at

the top of the hill, but I was always in the position I wanted to be in," Moore

said. "For her first run of the year, she found plenty and she looked beforehand

as if she would come forward for it."

Stoute added, "She proved that she wants at least 10 furlongs and we didn't

think she was quite right today, so we are delighted with that performance.

We'll stop and think and see how she comes out of it and what's available.

"I don't think she'll go for the Duke of Cambridge S. ([Eng-G2] at Royal

Ascot June 17), which was our winter thought and so the Pretty Polly S.

([Ire-G1] at the Curragh June 28) could be on her agenda.

"She is improving physically and has a lot of scope. She is very athletic and

has a great mind -- she always has done -- and we really do like this filly."

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