Wonder Legend (4/1) ensured a Finals Day double for owner Boniface Ho and jockey Daniel Muscutt with a commanding victory in the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap.
The five-year-old had already enjoyed a progressive all-weather campaign for James Ferguson and was aiming to defy a career-high mark of 100 following a comfortable win over Plage De Havre at Wolverhampton in March.
Plage De Havre, sent off the 5/2 favourite to gain his revenge, led for much of the two-mile feature but stopped quickly after being headed entering the final quarter-mile, with top-weight Roaring Legend taking up the running.
Wonder Legend travelled sweetly into the race from mid-division and loomed up to head Roaring Legend over a furlong out before powering clear for an easy success over Tribal Star (20/1) and Heathen (25/1).
Muscutt had also guided the James Fanshawe-trained Glittering Legend to victory in the Ho silks in the opening Listed BetMGM Burradon Stakes.
Ferguson said: “Wonder Legend has improved with every run this winter. He has run a blinder today and Dan gave him a great ride. Credit to his owner Bon Ho, who has had a good day with Glittering Legend also winning the Burradon Stakes.
“Going two miles seemed to work wonderfully for Wonder Legend. He loves the surface and I cannot wait to get him on the turf to see if he can reproduce the same form.
“I am really pleased for the owner, having kept Wonder Legend in training at five. I think the horse has a bright season ahead of him and it is great to win a valuable prize like this.
“I am delighted for the whole team at Machell Place Stables. They work incredibly hard and I am incredibly grateful.”
Muscutt said: “Credit goes to Chloe who is here with the horse – she absolutely adores Wonder Legend and rides him out all the time.
“At one point he looked as though he was going the wrong way, but we have tinkered with his regime and it has transformed him. His confidence is up from running on the all-weather through the winter.
“He is bred to be a good horse and, back to his form as a three-year-old, he looked really progressive. It has just taken time for him to come full-term physically.
“Now he is giving himself a chance to stay these extended trips, he is a really comfortable ride. He is a horse who travels well and has a change of gear over two miles.
“I am delighted for the team. It has been great to top and tail the card here. Mr Ho has invested plenty and it’s good to take two big pots for him.”
Ado McGuinness said of the runner-up: “I am delighted with Tribal Star. He is still quite green, although he has never been out of the first four in his life. We bought him from Godolphin, and he is bred to stay, being by Sea The Stars out of a 14-furlong Listed winner.
“We had to run him over 10 furlongs the last day to get him qualified. Today was his first time over this trip and we have a lot to look forward to with him in staying races, over here and in Ireland. The guys are delighted to get a lovely pot of prize money today.”
Mark Winn, rider of Heathen, said: “I am really happy. He has had a few months off, so he is nice and fresh – he seems to run better fresh. I think the two miles probably just caught him out, as he didn’t finish that last furlong as quick and strong as he usually would. Over a mile and three quarters, I think he would have run really well.”
4.42pm BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap
1 Wonder Legend (K K Ho) James Ferguson 5-9-08 Daniel Muscutt 4/1
2 Tribal Star (Dooley T’breds, J Fairhurst, Kabin Racing Synd, N O’Hare) Ado McGuinness IRE 4-8-06 Jamie Powell 20/1
3 Heathen (The Horse Watchers 10) David O’Meara 5-9-08 Mark Winn 25/1
14 ran 5/2F Plage De Havre (PU)
James Ferguson – 1st Finals Day winner
Daniel Muscutt – 2nd Finals Day winner
