Sword Of Legacy's determined win follows Band Of Brothers' Ramornie success
Matthew Dunn's stable has enjoyed a prosperous week, capped by Sword Of Legacy's hard-fought victory at Rosehill. This triumph arrived just three days after Band Of Brothers, carrying the same lime, purple, and gold Hesket Thoroughbreds silks of David Moodie, captured the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.
Sword Of Legacy, sent out the $2.25 favourite, secured the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) on Saturday. This win represented Dunn's 130th of the season, elevating him to sixth in the national trainers' premiership and underscoring a standout campaign for the trainer. The filly was a popular choice with punters, as noted by leading Australian betting sites.
"The same colours on Wednesday won the Ramornie. We've had a great season," Dunn stated.
"That's about 130 winners for the season, and we're fifth or sixth in the Australian premiership, so to do that from a country base is a credit to my team."
Having previously placed at Group level in Victoria during her two-year-old season, Sword Of Legacy joined Dunn's stable earlier this year and has since won three of her six starts under his tutelage.
Dunn revealed he had intended to spell the filly after her most recent run at Eagle Farm, but David Moodie encouraged him to give her one more run.
"I was actually going to stop her after her last start and David Moodie convinced me to go one more," he commented.
"She's had to dig really deep on a testing track, and I suppose it ticks another box moving forward with her career. She's going to improve again off what she's doing now.
"She has already performed at stakes level. She should have won a Listed race three starts back in Brisbane, and just missed in a stakes race her second start in a race.
"I think she is better than an off-season Saturday horse."
The success echoed the Grafton carnival spirit when the Tom Charlton and John O'Shea-trained Roselyn's Star triumphed in the Schweppes Handicap (1100m) shortly after. This win came after Charlton secured the Grafton Cup (2350m) with King Pedro on Thursday.
Roselyn's Star, the $2 favourite, was making its first start since achieving Group 3 status in the autumn. It proved to be in a different class, defeating Grand Impact ($20) by a comfortable 2-1/4 lengths.
"The key to him was when we turned him out a winner," O'Shea said.
"He had a nice break, he had his tail in the air coming off a win. He's come back in, and Tom and the team have done a wonderful job preparing him today."
O'Shea confirmed that the Magic Millions carnival next year is the primary target for the talented winner.
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