Trainer Greg Hickman to saddle up Private Legacy in 2025 Lord Mayor's Cup at Rosehill Gardens
The late autumn middle distance stakes race was first run in 1944 and was won by one of the greatest mares of all-time, Flight.
But since Flight, mares haven't had a lot of success in the Lord Mayor's Cup and only two have won the race in the last 25 years – Gypsy's Daughter (2000) and Polly Grey (2021).
Private Legacy, a locally-bred mare, not only has the weight of history against her but also an invasion of imported stayers.
A study of the Lord Mayor's Cup field reveals 13 of the 15 starters were born overseas – four from France, three each from Great Britain, Ireland and New Zealand.
A talented daughter of Arrowfield Stud's boom sire The Autumn Sun, Private Legacy was purchased by Hickman at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast three years ago.
Hickman liked the yearling filly's conformation but he admired her pedigree page even more.
She was last foal out of Private Secretary, the former talented mare who was a direct descendant of the legendary American superhorse Secretariat.
Private Secretary, who Hickman trained to win eight races including the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares for more than $1 million prizemoney, died just days after giving birth to her The Autumn Sun filly.
'We had sold Private Secretary to Arrowfield after she retired and they sent her to Snitzel twice,'' Hickman said.
'I trained her first foal called Charteris who went well but had a few knee issues.
'We missed out on her second foal then when I saw her filly by The Autumn Sun, I was hoping we could buy her and we did for $90,000.''
Private Legacy is now a rising five-year-old mare but Hickman, the trainer and part-owner, has raced her sparingly with the mare having just her 22nd start in the Lord Mayor's Cup.
Although she has only won twice, Private Legacy has shown glimpses of real ability including her close second in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville last year.
Hickman took Private Legacy back to Morphettville earlier this month where the mare scored a career-best win in the Listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m).
Private Legacy cuts the corner finding the fence to charge home! @BMelham pic.twitter.com/aFkUBatFCf
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 10, 2025
•
'I felt that was the right race for her, it was a target race,'' Hickman said.
'But that was only her fourth run back this preparation and she has trained on really well since Adelaide. She's fit and well and gets into Saturday's race on the limit (54kg).''
The trainer has booked emerging apprentice Jace McMurray to ride Private Legacy on Saturday.
Hickman met McMurray for the first time at the Canterbury midweek meeting when the young apprentice rode the trainer's gelding Unwritten to an unplaced finish.
'I think Jace has the potential to be a very good apprentice,'' Hickman said. 'Although he can't claim in the Lord Mayor's Cup, I'm happy to have him on my mare.''
Private Legacy and Bacio Del Mist are the only mares in the 15-horse Lord Mayor's Cup field on Saturday and are rated $5.50 and $81 respectively in early TAB Fixed Odds betting.
Topweight Major Beel, winner of the 2023 ATC Australian Derby, is the $5 favourite to give Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse her sixth win in the race after Eliyass (2024), Ecuador (2016), Kinnersley (2012), Common Objective (2010) and Stoway (2004).
Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, also has Sir Lucan ($26) resuming in the Rosehill stakes race.
The quintet share something in common having started their race careers in Europe, just like the stable's previous winners of the race, Hopeful (2022) and Bois D'Argent (2023).
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