Stallion prospect Midnights Legacy wins readily on second start

Stallion prospect Midnights Legacy - one of the last offspring of the much-lamented sire Midnight Legend - passed the latest significant milestone on his way to stud by winning readily on his second start at Bath on Wednesday.

David and Kathleen Holmes of Pitchall Stud in Warwickshire harbour dreams of turning one of the last colt foals by their late, leading jumps sire Midnight Legend into a stallion.

The two-year-old Midnights Legacy was saddled by Alan King and ridden by Tom Marquand in the Download The Star Sports App Now/EBF Novice Stakes, and finished strongest after the leaders had formed a line of five as the race entered the closing stages.

"We might have another run this year, but we'll talk to the trainer," said David Holmes after the race.

"We may just put him away and then he'll go on the Flat next season and this time next year he'll go juvenile hurdling."

"It's absolutely fantastic," added Kathleen. "We're still in shock."

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 Holmeses' 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 Holmeses 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 will eventually win a Group or Graded race to justify him going to stud.

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