New Stakes-Winner for Stratum
Much missed Widden stallion Stratum came close to a stakes double Absolute Flirt was a luckless second in the Listed VRC Cap D’Antibes Stakes at Flemington, but thirty five minutes later he struck with the John Moloney-trained Legionnaire who broke his maiden in the Listed VRC Exford Plate (1400m).
With less than two lengths separating the first 10 across the line, Legionnaire was in the right spot at the right time when the pressure came on.
Ridden by Jamie Mott for trainer John Moloney, Legionnaire broke his maiden at his sixth start in winning by half a neck.
“Although he was a maiden, I didn’t think he was far off them, we believe in the horse and that’s why we took them on today,” Moloney said.
“He’s still a bit of an immature type and there’ll be better and stronger horses coming and I’m just happy to take his place where we can fit him in at the moment,” Moloney said.
“We’ve got a big day today and the horse has done well and just how long he can last into the prep, I’m not confident of overdoing him because he will be better with time.”
A homebred for Julie Sampson and Meridy Taite, Legionnaire is the first foal of the 3-time Melbourne winner Matron, a daughter of the talented Flying Spur mare Gawne who won the Listed MRC Perri Cutten Classic and is a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 WATC Railway Stakes winner Great Shot and a half-sister to the dam of the dual Group III winner Casino Dancer.
Legionnaire becomes the 42nd stakes-winner for the Golden Slipper winner Stratum who died in September 2016. The son of Redoute’s Choice has 15 foals, now two-year-olds, in his final crop.
