Legatissimo is already one of Europe's busiest and most successful Group One performers in 2015 and the David Wachman-trained filly continues to appear in great shape ahead of her 'Longines Champions Weekend' appearance at Leopardstown on Saturday week.
The 1,000 Guineas and Nassau Stakes winner is a 2-1 ante-post favourite for the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes, which is sponsored by her owners, but is also among the 26 entries still left in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and Wachman insists options remain open for his star.
“She is in both races, is on track for Champions Weekend and we will have to see what the owners want to do. She likes good ground and hopefully there will be nice conditions at Leopardstown,” he said.
Final complexion
So much of the final complexion of both Group One races on the opening leg of the €4 million Champions Weekend showpiece is set to depend on the going at Leopardstown with Aidan O’Brien’s dual-2,000 Guineas hero Gleneagles in particular requiring fast conditions in order to appear.
Legatissimo too carries the colours of Michael Tabor and the classic-winning filly is set for a seventh start of the season which began with a defeat at Leopardstown back in April.
Since then she has blossomed into a top performer, scoring at Gowran before securing a Guineas triumph at a mile and then being just touched off by Qualify over a mile and a half in the Oaks. Narrowly beaten in the Pretty Polly she arguably put in a career-best display when successful at Goodwood in the Nassau a month ago.
Aidan O’Brien has his own Matron Stakes options such as Found but has already described Legatissimo as “the one everyone has to beat” should she appear back at a mile for her first appearance at the distance since the Guineas.
Wachman doesn’t anticipate any problem with a drop in trip. But like many other trainers he will be anxiously examining ground conditions and is taking nothing granted with the daughter of Danehill Dancer after such a busy season.
“She seems absolutely fine and in good form at home but you never know until they run. They thought the same with American Pharoah at the weekend,” he pointed out, referring to the American Triple Crown winner’s shock long odds-on defeat in the Travers at Saratoga.
Wachman ruled out his other star filly Curvy from taking up an Irish Leger entry, indicating the Prix de l’Opera over Arc weekend could be a possible next stop for her. He said his good two year old Most Beautiful is unlikely to take up a Moyglare Stud Stakes entry.
However another of Europe’s star performers, Cirrus Des Aigles, has nothing else but the Champion Stakes on his agenda in what will be his first appearance in Ireland, and a first start since returning from injury.
The multiple Group One winning gelding, who memorably chased home Frankel, in the 2012 English Champion Stakes, was the subject of an upbeat bulletin from French trainer Corine Barande-Barbe.
“His problem wasn’t serious and given the way the ground has been, he hasn’t missed anything. He’s been in cracking form recently and we hope it rains a little. It’s not that he needs mud, it’s just that a few of his opponents don’t like it soft,” she said.
“After Ireland, there’s a possibility he could go for the Prix Dollar (Longchamp), but it’s only a Group Two and he’d have a lot of weight so we may just go straight to Ascot (English Champion Stakes.”
With Champions Weekend sold as a showpiece for flat racing in this country, Horse Racing Ireland have announced another promotion effort, offering free entry to students at both Leopardstown and the Curragh over the two days.
The initiative is backed by Godolphin.
