Time called on five-time Group 1 winner Legarto’s career

The retirement of five-time Group 1 winner Legarto has been confirmed by her principal owners Philip and Catherine Brown.

When the six-year-old won Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes it was accepted that was her final race in this country, but the possibility remained that she would have one further start in the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 28.

However, following discussions between Legarto’s ownership group, which includes trainers Ken and Bev Kelso, the decision has been made to bring down the curtain on her career.

“Bev and I would have loved the opportunity to give her one last race on the same track that she won the Australian Guineas, but we accept the majority decision to retire her now,” Ken Kelso said.

“She’s been a wonderful mare – a horse of lifetime as I stated again on Saturday – and we’re comfortable with her being retired at the top of her game. Winning the Herbie Dyke and Bonecrusher Stakes at her last two starts, especially when a lot of people had written her off, that has been immensely satisfying for all of us.”

Legarto will now be let down and prepared for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast in May, which Philip Brown describes as the logical path to realise her true worth for all concerned.