Hopes for Midnights Legacy stallion career still burning after fine debut

David and Kathleen Holmes' dream of turning one of the last colt foals by their late leading jumps sire Midnight Legend into a stallion is very much alive, as Midnights Legacy ran a promise-filled fifth on debut at Bath on Monday.

The Alan King-trained two-year-old was slowly into stride under Hollie Doyle in the Matchbook EBF Future Stayers' Novice Stakes, a sire and dam restricted race over a mile, and found trouble in running at the back of the field.

But when the gaps appeared he ran on really well to finish fifth, beaten five and a half lengths, behind the winner, the more experienced Surrey Pride.

Kathleen Holmes was ecstatic after the race, admitting she was “more pleased with fifth than I have been sometimes when we've won races”.

“We might not end up looking like complete idiots with this plan after all,” she added with a laugh.

The Holmes' were on hand at Bath to cheer on their charge and, although they have enjoyed success as owners and breeders in more high-profile races, Kathleen admitted to “doing a bit of box-walking” before Midnights Legacy made his bow.

The nerves soon turned to relief and renewed hope, however.

“He was slow away and was off the bit but he soon got the message and finished well,” she said. “Hollie gave him a lovely ride and Alan was thrilled with him.

“We don't have a next race in mind but it certainly looks like he should be able to run again at two, which is no mean feat when you consider he's a May foal.”

Holmes was particularly pleased with Midnights Legacy's attitude on the day.

“He behaved impeccably,” she said. “He was just himself in the parade ring, ears pricked and keen to get on with the job. A few of the others played up but he didn't do anything silly.

“Then after the race you could tell he'd enjoyed himself, he came back with his ears still forward and his eyes beaming. He seems to have exactly the same good attitude as his sire had.”

Midnights Legacy appeared to be carrying a little condition under his saddle cloth for his debut, but Holmes said that was typical of Midnight Legend's stock and the sire himself.

“A lot of them have that because they're such good doers,” she said. “All Midnight Legend could think about was food. You could have fired a gun when he had his head in his trough and he wouldn't have stirred.”

Midnight Legend, a high-class Flat performer who was left entire when sent jumping, endeared himself to breeders and racing fans alike when his first moderately bred crops yielded talented performers such as Aimigayle, Holmwood Legend, Midnight Chase, My Petra and Sparky May.

As the son of Night Shift gained wider recognition he received better mares at the Holmes' Pitchall Stud and more top-class runners by him have emerged, led by Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Sizing John.

Midnight Legend died aged 25 in 2016 at which point, as is the case with most British and Irish-based jumps sires, he had little or no sons who had not been gelded to continue his line.

That prompted the Holmes' to spare Midnights Legacy, out of the well-bred Generous mare Giving and thus a sibling to five winners, the unkindest cut in the hope he could eventually win a Graded race over jumps to justify him going to stud.

Read more about the Midnights Legacy story...

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