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Kerrin McEvoy hopes Canberra Legend can become the latest European stayer to raid Sydney’s carnival coffers.
Three weeks after producing Land Legend to plunder the St Leger Stakes, Newmarket trainer James Ferguson is poised to repeat the does with well-backed favourite Canberra Legend in the Rosehill Gold Cup.
Like Land Legend, Canberra Legend is a lightly raced four-year-old to southern hemisphere time but as a Listed winner and Group 3 placegetter, he boasts superior European formlines to his stablemate.
Kerrin Mcevoy has picked up the plum mount and says outside a forgivable last start failure in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (2414m) at York, Canberra Legend's form reads well for a Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) bid.
"He seems to have travelled out well and he's got some interesting formlines in some good three-year-old races over there," McEvoy said.
"He ran well at Royal Ascot then put a line through his last start in the Great Voltigeur because he sat up really close to a really hot speed and went too quick.
"But put a line through that and he's got some interesting form for a race like this on Saturday."
McEvoy has ridden Canberra Legend just once in a jump out at Canterbury last month.
He was satisfied with the hit-out and has no doubt Ferguson will have him trained to the minute.
"They know what to do," he said.
"James has travelled horses to Melbourne and here previously (with success), so it shows they're doing something right for sure."
McEvoy's Rosehill book also includes Vienna Princess for Chris Waller in the Golden Eagle (1500m) where the Snitzel mare will look to make it three wins from as many campaign runs.
McEvoy was in the saddle for her most recent victory when she came from worse than midfield to capture the Silver Eagle (1300m) and while she is yet to win beyond 1400m, he has no doubt she will see out Saturday's journey.
"She should be a Rosehill 1500 metre winner already. I rode her one day and never got out," McEvoy said.
"She can run a good race at odds."
