Promising three-year-old Legally Binding made it two wins in succession when he led all the way at Ellerslie to take out the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series (1200m).
The son of Exceedance judged his effort to perfection as rider Wiremu Pinn took him straight to the front and said to his rivals catch me if you can as he shot clear rounding the home bend.
Three lengths clear at the 250m, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared galloper looked to have the situation well in control at that point however he started to tire and was looking for the post to come up as quickly as possible.
Pinky Pie, Dupont and Little Thief began to close rapidly and at the line it was a close run thing as he held out Pinky Pie by a half a head, with Dupont a similar margin back in third and Little Thief just a long neck from victory when finishing fourth.
A handy winner on the synthetic surface over 970m last month, Legally Binding has now won two of his three starts with co-trainer Mark Walker pleased with the improvement his charge has made in this preparation.
“It was really good to see him win today at Ellerslie,” Walker said. “He’s obviously still green, still has a bit to learn, but it’s hard to win around Ellerslie, given the strength of competition, and he’s now won two of his three starts.
“He got a bit tired the last bit of the race, but he’s a horse that has always shown ability and obviously it’s a big advantage if you can race on the speed these days.
“He’s only three and he’s the type of horse that will continue to develop and get stronger as he matures.
“It was good to see Wiremu (Pinn) back in the saddle from suspension, judging it nicely to ride a winner, and onwards & upwards from here for both horse and jockey.”
Out of the More Than Ready mare Legal Eagle, Legally Binding is raced by the Te Akau Eagle Eyed Racing Partnership after being purchased by Te Akau boss David Ellis for $90,000, from the draft of Edinglassie Thoroughbreds, at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The race was also an important reminder that the annual New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale will be held at Karaka on 20 and 21 November with more than 400 two-year-olds to go through the auction ring.