Legality upsets in Williams Memorial feature

LEGALITY ran the favourites off their legs, bringing down the curtains on yesterday’s nine-race card at odds of 7-1, disputing the lead with CRAFTY AND READY before taking charge of the seven-furlong Allan E. ‘Billy’ Williams Memorial.

A seasoned overnight-allowance runner snapped up as at $750,000 bargain claim from Anthony Nunes’ fire sale, in defence of his third consecutive trainers’ title last December, United States-bred LEGALITY returned to the level with a bang for his new connections, upstaging the three fancied runners, beating former stablemate, CURLIN’S AFFAIR, and Gary Subratie’s pair - CRIMSON and ONE DON - into second, third and fourth, respectively.

Running light at 115lb with claiming rider Matthew Bennett, LEGALITY coupled up along the rail from the one hole to take on speedy CRAFTY AND READY after the first furlong.

Bennett kept the six-year-old dark bay running strongly against the rail, turning for home clear of CRAFTY AND READY but with 2-1 chance CURLIN’S AFFAIR coming off the turn full of running in third place, hunting a fourth straight win.

However, LEGALITY, who ran big races against some of the country’s best horses last season, found extra and dug in along the rail to win by three lengths, clocking a fast 1:25.4.

CRIMSON, whose rider, Dane Dawkins, afterwards lodged an unsuccessful jockey’s objection for interference against Robert Halledeen astride CURLIN’S AFFAIR, closed into third as the 6-5 favourite ahead of stablemate ONE DON, who finished fourth at odds of 3-1.

Dawkins, who rode four winners on Saturday’s 10-race card, including the late double, opened yesterday’s programme with a stinging victory astride last Sunday’s maiden winner, 11-1 outsider SILVER FOX, who reported up in class among four-year-old, non-winners of two races, to chase down TRUE BRAVADO at five and a half furlongs.

The in-form rider’s meet-opening win took his tally to 15 winners, six clear of Halledeen, who went winless at the weekend.

Ryan Darby saddled two winners, BUNKSY BOY and BROMPTON ALEX, to top the afternoon.

Racing continues with another Saturday-Sunday meet this weekend.