Bet 365 Feilden Stakes (Listed)

CANBERRA Legend (James Ferguson/Danny Muscutt) looks the sort to go on to better things having maintained his unbeaten record in the Listed Feilden Stakes on Wednesday.

The 15/2 chance was an impressive winner on debut at Newcastle and improved on that to gain a first blacktype success at the main expense of Kolsai (Roger Varian/David Egan) and Killybegs Warrior (Charlie Johnston/Richard Kingscote), who looked set to fight out the finish in the dip only to be run down by the winner’s strong finish.

The margins were three-quarters of a length and half a length.

A 350,000gns yearling by Australia, Canberra Legend settled behind the leaders and was one of four to pull away entering the dip, but he got a little unbalanced there, and it was only on hitting the rising ground again that he hit full stride and was arguably value for a bit further than the official margin.

Owner Bon Ho had his colours carried to success in the Bahrain Trophy and Great Voltigeur last year with Deauville Legend, and Ferguson hopes the winner will be as good as that horse.

He is entered in the Qipco 2000 Guineas and the Betfred Derby, but it would seem that the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York is most likely to be his next assignment.

Inexperienced

Ferguson said: “He was quite inexperienced coming into the race, so I was delighted with how professional he was when the gates opened. From that wide draw he had every opportunity to be a bit keen and free, but he settled into the race really well.

“I thought he was given a lovely ride and, from the jockey’s actions, it looked like Dan was pretty happy the whole way, so I’m absolutely thrilled.

“He has always been a big type, but he did show his class at two. We all made a decision to leave him and let him develop over the winter and that run at Newcastle and today showed he does have the ability that he’d shown us at home.

“I think he will definitely get further in time. He’s in the Guineas and the Dante. I think we have to see how he comes out of the race; the Guineas isn’t that far away. He looks like he wants further, but I have to talk to the owner first.”