Not A Single Doubt’s international Group double

Alberto Sanna celebrates his first Group victory in Hong Kong aboard Bon Ho's redoubtable Southern Legend. (PHOTO: Hong Kong Jockey Club)

There’s no question that Not A Single Doubt is a wonderful sire of ready-made 2YOs and he has 29 stakeswinners in that category to prove it, including Blue Diamond G1 winners Extreme Choice and Miracles of Life. 

His progeny are also noted for retaining their zest & fitness for racing well beyond their first two or three campaigns, so it’s not surprising that his four stakeswinners so far this season have come from his 2012, 2013 and 2015 crops. 

6YO Samadoubt and 7YO Scales Of Justice opened Not A Single Doubt’s 2019/20 season with a bang, winning the ATC Winx S. G1 and MRC Memsie S. G1 in August, followed by Samadoubt’s ATC Chelmsford S. G2 victory in September. 

An international Group race double last weekend by another pair of previous stakeswinners keeps the pot boiling and takes Not A Single Doubt’s career tally of stakes wins to 140 (74 of them in Group races). 

First-up on Saturday, 4YO Samizdat (ex Sambar by More Than Ready) finished too strongly for his rivals in the $150,000 Perth Racing Asian Beau S. 1400m G3, his fifth win in 8 starts for trainer Chris Gangemi. 

Bred by Amelia Park Racing & Breeding, Samizdat was the top-priced lot at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Sale at $325,000. He has covered that outlay with earnings of almost $400,000, including the winner’s share of the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (R) LR in February.

His next task will be to give breeder and co-owner Peter Walsh his first Group 1 success, in either Winterbottom S. on 30 November, or the Kingston Town Classic on 7 December.

The profile of Hong Kong owner Bon Ho’s team of Legends has been raised in Australia by Not A Single Doubt’s son, the brilliant Arrowfield Sprint S. G2 winner Classique Legend. The team leader at home is another “Son of Single”, the Caspar Fownes-trained Southern Legend, going better than ever in his 6th season of racing. 

His 11 wins from 1000m to 1800m include the ATC Darby Munro S. LR at three, two Singapore Kranji Miles LR and now the HKJC Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse 1800m G3 in track record time last Sunday. 

Southern Legend’s 33-start, $5 million career includes three Group 1-placings in the 2000-metre Hong Kong Gold Cup and the Hong Kong Mile. The gelding is engaged in both races again this year and jockey Alberto Sanna believes either one will suit him. It’s surely a good omen that past Hong Kong Cup winners Time Warp and Exultant filled the Ladies’ Purse placings behind Southern Legend. 

Carmel Size, the Legend team’s Racing Manager makes no bones about where her heart lies when it comes to the horses she advises Mr Ho to buy, then develops for racing in Australia and Hong Kong. 

No surprises then, that four of the yearlings she has bought for Mr Ho in the past two years are by Not A Single Doubt. 

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