Group 1 winner Legarto to be sold at Magic Millions National Sale

Legarto will be offered at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast in May after her owners confirmed the multiple Group 1 winner is nearing the end of her racing career.

The six-year-old daughter of Proisir returned to her best form with a fourth elite victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa and is likely to have just one more start.

She had gone winless for almost a year before repeating her 2024 Herbie Dyke success with a determined win over Kingswood, a result that delivered jockey Opie Bosson his 100th Group 1 and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso their 15th.

Ken Kelso said Legarto had pulled up well and is on track for the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie on Champions Day with the Australian Cup at Flemington also a potential curtain call on her racing career.

“We put her out in the paddock after getting home from the races, but it took a while to catch her when I went out to put her cover on later on,” Kelso said.

“That tells me she’s taken no harm from the race, so the Bonecrusher is the obvious next target for her.”

Philip Brown, speaking for the 12-strong ownership group, confirmed Legarto’s sale plans and said she will be prepared by Brian Nutt at Attunga Stud in the Hunter Valley.

“We’ve already arranged for her to go to Brian Nutt at Attunga Stud to be prepared for the sale,” Brown said.

“Being a partnership, public auction is the proper way to realise her true worth. As a multiple Group 1 winner including one in Australia, she’s obviously a valuable mare, so it’s going to be an interesting exercise.”