Long wait for Leger Legends victory finally over for Gary Bardwell
Bardwell, a former champion apprentice, has been a regular down the years in a race that raises money for jack Berry House, the Injured Jockeys Fund rehab centre at Malton, and the National Horseracing College.
But Bardwell had never troubled the judge before now after hitting the front a furlong out on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Natural Colour.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHowever, Winston was getting a real tune out of joint-favourite Shining Aitch and flew close home, only to fail by the narrowest of margins.
Barry Geraghty finished sixth on Mumtaaz, with Richard Johnson fading into seventh on Greek Kodiac having helped make the running.
Bardwell, who rode in the very first Leger Legends in 2010, said: “I’m over the moon.
“Thanks to Saeed, what a pleasure to ride in these famous blue colours of Godolphin. I’m lost for words.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“This is probably the first year that I’ve really got fit for it, I’ve been in training for six weeks in the gym, running every night.
“Today I didn’t have one drink, I had nothing to eat but a bit of toast this morning.
“I knew she’d give me everything and I had to be ready for her. This is up with the best of all my big winners.”
Former champion jump jockey Johnson said: “It was good fun - they just went a bit quicker than I did over the last two furlongs.
“It’s lovely to be here today, in this amazing weather.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Fi (wife Fiona) just joked, because she obviously couldn’t come to my last race (retirement at Newton Abbot) because of Covid, that it’s quite nice she’s seen me have my proper last race now.
“It’s fantastic that Doncaster put this race on and raised a huge amount of money for the IJF and different charities.
“It’s lovely to be part of it – all the lads riding have enjoyed it, and we can go back now and have a drink and cool down.”
Meanwhile a step up in trip is expected to help Save A Forest raise her game for the Hippo Pro3 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes – one of the highlights on Ladies Day at the Leger meeting.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe Roger Varian-trained Kingman filly has already made giant strides this year, progressing from a maiden win at Wolverhampton to landing Listed honours at Newmarket on her latest appearance.
During the intervening period, Save A Forest won a Windsor handicap, finished second in the Lingfield Oaks Trial and placed fourth behind the brilliant Snowfall in the Oaks at Epsom.
She has 9lb to find with John and Thady Gosden’s likely favourite Free Wind but Varian observed: “It looks like her running style will suit the step up in trip and we’ll have to see how it plays out on the day.
“She seems versatile ground-wise. If we had our choice we’d prefer a bit more ease in the ground, but it is what it is.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSave A Forest had the option of taking on the boys in Saturday’s Cazoo St Leger, but connections opted to keep the filly against her own sex. Varian added: “She’d have been a big outsider in the Leger, whereas she looks to have a genuine chance in the Park Hill.”
STRADIVARIUS will face six rivals as he bids for a second Doncaster Cup win on Town Moor tomorrow.
John and Thady Gosden’s charge will be making his third trip to the Yorkshire track, having won this race in 2019 and finished a close third in the 2017 St Leger.
Having disappointed when finishing fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup, Stradivarius returned to winning form with a narrow victory over Spanish Mission in the Lonsdale Cup at York last month.
Meanwhile Trueshan, who was a non runner at York due to quick ground, could now get his chance to take on Stradivarius – provided that the forecast rain materialises.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.