Boom NZ three-year-old headed to Australia

Co-trainer Ken Kelso has confirmed that the very promising Legarto will head across the Tasman to contest the Australian Guineas at Flemington.

The three-year-old tasted defeat for the first time in the Karaka Million in her last start, where she had no clear passage for much of the home straight before running on late to secure fourth place.

Prior to that Legarto had won five races in a row, including the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic with both victories coming in impressive fashion.

Legarto has been ridden in all of her starts to date by Ryan Elliot, but Kelso has stated that a Victorian jockey will get the ride in the Guineas, although no final decision has been made on just who will be offered the ride.

Kelso is also considering bringing Levante, who like Legarto is a daughter of Proisir, to Australia to race once again.

In January and February last year Levante, now a six-year-old, finished second in the Group 1 Railway and then won successive Group 1 races … the Telegraph and the BCD Group Sprint, both at Te Rapa, before finishing fourth in the Newmarket at Flemington on March 22.

After an eight-month spell away from racing, Levante’s first run after the Newmarket again came at Flemington on November 5. where she again filled fourth place, this time in the Group 1 VRC Classic.

Following the same path as last year, Levante then finished third in the Railway on New Year’s day, won her second Telegraph and is currently lined up to try to repeat her BCD Group Sprint win (on February 11) before her Australian campaign will be brought into focus.

Ken Kelso trains both Legarto and Levante in partnership with his wife Bev.