‘Masked avenger’ rewards his owner
DECORATED owner Rupert Legh has ridden many a bump.
Most would believe the ride has kept him at the top of the roller-coaster, courtesy of his champion sprinter Chautauqua.
It is a fair assumption, considering the mighty grey has won six Group 1 races and $7.75 million in prizemoney.
But even for a successful owner, the roller-coaster has to take a dip at some stage.
None of those plummets have dropped lower than when talented stayer Araldo was put down after shattering his hind $13.70 $3.90 $1.50 $4.10 pastern when frightened by a spectator on Melbourne Cup day in 2014.
The disappointment of losing a race is hard enough, but Legh says the loss of Araldo was “like putting a knife through my heart”.
Yesterday, Vengeur Masque — French for “masked avenger” — was his super horse, claiming the Geelong Cup to give him what he hopes will be his first Cup runner since Araldo.
“We bought him out of France as a three-year-old with the intention of winning a Melbourne Cup, and we knew it was a time thing,” Legh said.
“Being by Monsun, I’ve always had a big opinion of the horse, it’s just needed maturing. If you look at the Melbourne Cup record the last three or four years, I think three have been won by Monsuns (Almandin, Protectionist, Fiorente).
“I still think he might be a year away from his peak, which is normal for a Monsun — they’re normally six or seven before they hit their straps.
“We just thought if he settled, he was as good as that field.”
Luck has not been on Vengeur Masque’s side this campaign — his three previous starts he had drawn gates 15, 10 and seven.
Yesterday he drew 10 of 12, and while he had been sent back in recent runs, the chance to go forward proved the winning move.
“Looking at the TV, I thought he settled fantastically, and even at the home turn I knew he could outstay them because that’s what he was bred to do,” Legh said.
“It’s funny, my wife said, ‘Can he hang on?’ and I said, ‘He’s bred to hang on’.”
With earmuffs applied to help him relax, Vengeur Masque held off Gallic Chieftain to put himself into Melbourne Cup contention.
The six-year-old is now at the mercy of Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter, who will decide on the penalty to move it up the Melbourne Cup order of entry.
Legh is also lucky enough to part-own Ventura Storm and hopes he can overcome a bruised heel to run on the first Tuesday in November.
But before that, the navy blue and gold lightning bolt silks will be represented by Chautauqua in Friday night’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
“I would have loved to have been down there (in Geelong) but I’m just getting over this silly back surgery and I’m trying to preserve myself for Friday night,” Legh said.