Lynward Park homebred Summer’s Legacy relished stretching out to a mile for the first time this prep with a straightforward victory in the Schweppes Hcp (1650m) on Wednesday.
The Ascot result was never really in doubt once the $1.70 favourite lobbed one-out and one-back for Willie Pike. The Bondi mare ranged up to the leaders Shaula (Zoustar) and I’m Crafty (Starcraft) at the furlong and then extended to score by more than two lengths.
Summer’s Legacy (Photo / Western Racepix) owns a black-type pedigree that indicates she will only improve only longer journeys. “Lynward Park have been great supporters of our stable and we didn’t miss her as a 3yo,” co-trainer Grant Williams said. “She’s a hardy mare now and more racing will keep bringing her on.”
Indeed, Williams Racing did keep her up to the mark in the autumn when she won second-up at Belmont prior to finishing just behind the placegetters in the LR 1000 Guineas (1800m), LR Natasha Stakes (2200m), G3 WA Oaks (2400m) and G2 WA Derby (2400m) at Ascot.
Pike is also looking forward to partnering her deeper into this campaign. “The race set up nicely for us today. She’s a progressive type without that electric change up in speed but she settles well and that will be an asset when she steps up for those real staying trips.”
Summer’s Legacy is the final foal of Belmont winner Aunt Lydia (Serheed) and is a half-sister to a half-dozen winners headed by Fontainebleau (Alfred Nobel) who struck at Listed level in the 2017 Belmont Oaks and 2018 Starstruck Classic.
Lynward Park’s van Heemst family retained Fontainebleau and she has a 2yo filly named Juniper (Russian Revolution) and a yearling colt by Yes Yes Yes.
The bottom-line goes back several generations in WA. Second-dam Summer Silence (Zabaleta) landed Listed victories in the 1993 All Stars Quality and Lindsay Rosenthal Stakes in the Heytesbury Stud colours as did third-dam Surfside Lady (Pago Pago) in the G2 Champion Fillies Stakes of 1988.
Fourth-dam Bynsaab (Gay Saba) won the G2 Champion Fillies Stakes in 1976 for John and Doris Gabbedy.
Williams Racing has nominated Lynward Park’s recent Northam winner Moonwalk (Bondi) for the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot next Tuesday.
Bondi stands for a $6,600 (inc GST) service fee at Lynward Park. For bookings or further information call Troy van Heemst (0439 957 111) or John Chalmers (0418 948 604).
