Sword Of Legacy has concluded a significant week for trainer Matthew Dunn, securing a hard-fought victory at Rosehill. This follows just three days after Band Of Brothers claimed the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton, both horses carrying the same distinctive lime, purple, and gold silks of David Moodie’s Hesket Thoroughbreds.
The $2.25 favourite, Sword Of Legacy, clinched the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, marking Dunn’s 130th win for the season. This achievement propels him to sixth on the national trainers’ premiership, highlighting an exceptional period for the stable. The filly was a strong market mover according to leading betting apps Australia.
“The same colours on Wednesday won the Ramornie. We’ve had a great season,” Dunn remarked.
“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.”
After achieving Group placings in Victoria as a two-year-old, Sword Of Legacy joined Dunn’s stable earlier this year, boasting three wins from six starts under his guidance.
Dunn confessed he had initially planned to spell the filly after her preceding win at Eagle Farm, but Moodie’s influence led to one more outing.
“I was actually going to stop her after her last start and David Moodie convinced me to go one more,” he stated.
“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 Grafton momentum continued as the Tom Charlton and John O’Shea-trained Roselyn’s Star took out the Schweppes Handicap (1100m) in the subsequent race. This followed Charlton’s triumph in Thursday’s Grafton Cup (2350m) with King Pedro.
Roselyn’s Star, the $2 favourite, was making its first appearance since a Group 3 victory in the autumn and demonstrated superior class over its rivals, winning by a comfortable 2-1/4 lengths from Grand Impact ($20).
“The key to him was when we turned him out a winner,” O’Shea explained.
“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 following year’s Magic Millions carnival is the primary long-term objective for the victorious horse.
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