Legacy Isle lands Harlequin Cup in quick time

MOUTTET MILE runner-up LEGACY ISLE tracked BOOTYLICIOUS before dismissing the local-bred speedster in yesterday’s five-furlong straight Harlequin Cup, clocking a season-leading 57.2 for his second win from five starts locally.

The first of two winners for champion and leading rider, Raddesh Roman, who opened the nine-race card with 5-2 chance CHIEF DISSIDENT, American LEGACY ISLE reproduced an exciting exercise gallop out the straight in which he had clocked 58.2 alongside stablemate COMMANDANT.

Franking the form of COMMANDANT, who won Seeking My Dream two weeks prior, LEGACY ISLE effortlessly kept pace with BOOTYLICIOUS before exploding inside the final furlong, a dominant sprint performance among open-allowance runners.

Caught at the wire in December’s Mouttet Mile by local-based American, FUNCAANDUN, LEGACY ISLE started as the 4-5 favourite after the overnight scratch of fellow American, DESERT OF MALIBU.

Roman’s two-timer moved him to 47 winners, 23 clear of Shane Ellis atop the jockeys’ standings.

Dane Dawkins, 2022 champion rider, was aboard back-to-back winners, NUCLEAR JET and WAYNESCHERRYLINKS, in the sixth and seventh races, respectively.

Racing continues at the weekend with a dual Saturday-Sunday meet to open June, featuring the 1000 and 2000 Guineas classics, respectively.