First Up Win for Fastnet Colt

The red and yellow colours of Kevin Maloney’s Segenhoe Thoroughbreds were carried to victory at Canterbury on Wednesday by a very impressive first starter in Ninth Legion (2c Fastnet Rock x Xaar's Jewel, by Xaar). The Anthony Cummings trained two year-old had turned in a couple of moderate barrier trial performances and was easy in the market, but charged home from back in the field to snatch a narrow win in the 1100 metre maiden over another promising style of colt in Knight Exemplar. Winning rider Peter Robl was impressed with Ninth Legion. “He’s always been very genuine and has taken each step that’s come,” Robl said. “When he gets to a bigger track, you’ll see a nice horse.” Ninth Legion is entered for the Group I BRC TJ Smith Stakes in Brisbane on June 9, but Anthony Cummings fears the race may have come up a bit too quick for his exciting youngster. “He’s always shown promise and coped with everything we’ve asked of him,” Cummings said. “He’ll have his next run in Sydney, but maybe if he does well after that and eats up he might go for the TJ (TJ Smith Stakes).” Ninth Legion was a modest $110,000 purchase for his trainer from the Edinglassie Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the first foal of Xaar’s Jewel, a winning half-sister to stakes-winner Kidlat and to the dam of Group I NZ Two Thousand Guineas winner Tell a Tale.