Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the classy colt showing plenty of fight to hold out the beaten favourite Militarize in a Randwick Guineas 2024 thriller.
2024 Randwick Guineas winner Celestial Legend was excellent holding strong in a narrow upset. Photo: Steve Hart.
It was a brilliant renewal of the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) in Sydney with a ding dong battle to the line late by two sons of Dundeel.
The Chris Waller-trained triple elite level champ Militarize second-up with James McDonald aboard was favourite to salute, but had to settle for second behind the progressive grey Celestial Legend who outmuscled his rivals in a gutsy display.
“He never got on the track (today),” winning trainer Les Bridge told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“It was amazing. I think he’s the best horse I’ve had and I’ve thought so for a while but I’ve been frightened to even admit it to myself. But he’s fantastic.”
The colt went into the Randwick Guineas fit third-up as a last start winner having put 1.89 lengths on his rivals at Rosehill last time out in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
He became the first horse since The Autumn Sun (2019) to complete the Hobartville Stakes – Randwick Guineas double thanks to a never-say-die ride by Kerrin McEvoy.
Celestial Legend was forced to do plenty more work than his better-fancied counterpart going forward then back then forward again in the run.
With Les Vampires leading the field around, McEvoy and Celestial Legend were caught wide and back early.
Once on the home straight, Militarize chimed in and looked the one to beat before McEvoy hit the button on Celestial Legend.
The eventual winner joined the favourite 200m out from the finishing post and they raced home together in line with the hulking John O’Shea-trained Not A Single Doubt colt Cafe Millenium who raced down the outside looking to steal the show.
Celestial Legend ($3.60) however just kept digging and got to the line a short half-head in front of Militarize ($2.20F) with Cafe Millenium ($71) running out of his skin to finish off the close Randwick Guineas trifecta at any old price.
Having improved out of sight once more, Celestial Legend looks set for a big autumn with a race like the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 6 an attractive target.
All three place-getters put their names right in the frame for the upcoming Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 23.
Celestial Legend currently leads all-in 2024 Rosehill Guineas betting at $5 with Militarize, while Cafe Legend is further down the pre-field markets at a generous $26 despite looking well suited to the extra miles.
Click here for the latest futures markets on the Rosehill Guineas 2024 courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
The last three-year-old to do the Randwick – Rosehill Guineas race double was also the aforementioned The Autumn Sun in 2019.
Bridge however was happy to rule out the Rosehill Guineas for Celestial Legend with the Doncaster target instead confirmed.
“A mile will do me,” he said.
“If he pulls up well, I’ll run him in the Doncaster.”
All-in Doncaster Mile 2024 odds have Celestial Legend as the $8 second elect and can be accessed in full by clicking here.
2024 Randwick Guineas Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | CELESTIAL LEGEND | Les Bridge | Kerrin McEvoy | 11 | 56.5kg | $3.60 | |||
| 2 | 1 | MILITARIZE (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 0.1L | 4 | 56.5kg | $2.20F | ||
| 3 | 10 | CAFE MILLENIUM | John O’Shea | Tom Marquand | 0.24L | 7 | 56.5kg | $71 | ||
| 4 | 2 | TOM KITTEN | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 0.97L | 8 | 56.5kg | $7 | ||
| 5 | 4 | ENCAP | Gary Portelli | Jason Collett | 1.14L | 10 | 56.5kg | $12 | ||
| 6 | 9 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Sam Clipperton | 1.3L | 1 | 56.5kg | $20 | ||
| 7 | 8 | DUCASSE | Michael Freedman | Tyler Schiller | 1.36L | 9 | 56.5kg | $51 | ||
| 8 | 6 | LES VAMPIRES | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 1.57L | 2 | 56.5kg | $19 | ||
| 9 | 5 | GANBARE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 1.69L | 5 | 56.5kg | $26 | ||
| 10 | 11 | COSMIC LAD | Edward Cummings | Chad Schofield | 3.4L | 6 | 56.5kg | $151 | ||
| 11 | 7 | FUKUBANA | Matthew Dunn | Tommy Berry | 9.42L | 3 | 56.5kg | $31 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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