The first of the four Group 1 races on Day 1 of The Championships saw Peter & Paul Snowden continue their excellent record in the Inglis Sires’ taking out the 2020 edition with the Champagne Stakes-bound King’s Legacy.

King’s Legacy surged late to score an upset in the 2020 Inglis Sires’ at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.

Co-trainer Peter Snowden celebrated his fifth win in the Group 1 $500,000 Inglis Sires’ (1400m) and his second in partnership with his son Paul after their other recent victory in 2017 with Invader.

This year it was all about the impressive late surge by progressive Redoute’s Choice colt King’s Legacy, the expensive yearling purchases rewarding connections with a Group 1 win at his fifth start.

“It’s very pleasing obviously on so many levels,” Paul Snowden told Sky Racing post-win.

“He was an expensive yearling and now he’s gone on and he’s a Group 1 winner.”

After breaking his maiden status second-up in a Group 3 in Brisbane last December, King’s Legacy travelled to the Gold Coast for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic finishing 2.5 lengths back fifth behind the gun filly Away Game.

He returned to Sydney after a freshen-up running in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds, the Group 1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), but had excuses on the Soft going that day when ninth as an $81 roughie.

The Snowdens knew the youngster had improvement in him after he came off the Slipper run in very high spirits and targeted him for the Inglis Sires’ at Randwick.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman for the first time, King’s Legacy settled last in running as Cultural Amnesia led the Inglis Sires’ field around setting a solid clip.

Dual Group 3 winner Prague, sixth in the Slipper last start, was away well from his wide draw and raced up into second position, while the firm favourite Mamaragan blew the advantage of an inside barrier two draw getting stuck worse than midfield in the run.

The John Thompson-trained top elect Mamaragan continued to get shuffled back giving himself plenty of work to do, the Golden Slipper third placed Wandjina colt having absolutely no luck.

Cultural Amnesia swung in front around the turn, but was quickly headed off by Prague at the top of the straight.

Prague ($5) looked off and away on the back of a long-sustained run before the fast-finishing effort from King’s Legacy ($19) who drew level with 50m to go before giving a final burst overpower the leader and salute by a half-length in a notable upset Inglis Sires’ result.

In a huge late run, the luckless $2.70 favourite Mamaragan managed to improve from a wide position eight lengths off the front runners around the turn to finish third just under two lengths beaten.

The Inglis Sires’, also known as the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, is a key lead-up to the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) held back at the Randwick track on April 18 this autumn.

Snowden was quick to confirm plans to back King’s Legacy up in the Champagne Stakes with the step-up to a mile to suit.

“He’s only going to get better up to seven furlong so hopefully in a couple of weeks in a mile race you’ll see him even better,” Snowden said.

“He’s one of those early two-year-old types…he carries form all the way through so hopefully we can continue racing.”

In recent years the likes of Helmet (2011), Pierro (2012) and Guelph (2013) have completed the Inglis Sires’ – Champagne Stakes double.

Updated 2020 Champagne Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have firmed on King’s Legacy in from $21 to $4 favouritism.

Mamaragan also lost few admirers and is in from $6 to $4.80 to atone, while Prague remains steady at $7.

Click here for the latest all-in Champagne Stakes 2020 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Inglis Sires’ Results