Mahon hoping Pink Legend can rise to occasion at Huntingdon

Owner Frank Mahon hopes he can enjoy another day to savour at Huntingdon on Friday 12 months on from being given the all clear from cancer after reporting Pink Legend to be ‘firing on all cylinders’ ahead of the Pertemps Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase.

Last year the Formby-based owner enjoyed a double celebration at the Cambridgeshire track in the Listed prize with the victory of the Venetia Williams-trained Midnight Legend mare coming just days after he was given the positive update regarding his health.

In two starts this season Pink Legend has finished sixth over course and distance in the Grade Two Fitzdares Peterborough Chase before filling third back down at Listed level against her own sex in the bet365 Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase at Doncaster.

Although Pink Legend is without a win to her name this season, the 71 year old is confident she can make his four-hour journey down from Merseyside worthwhile by securing victory in the two and a half mile feature for the second season in succession.

He said: “Last year’s race was my first time racing in a good couple of years due to the cancer and it was the first time I had the shackles let off. Two of my pals took me down and it was a fantastic day and we are all making the journey back down this year.

“The day was all a bit of a blur really and I had sort of given up on the race. Venetia said at four out she was going to win this but she was so far behind I thought she was not going to make up the ground, but thankfully she did down the back straight.

“She has since been back to Huntingdon as she ran in the Peterborough Chase last month. It was a tough ask first time out, but as it turned out she was beaten by a good horse in Pic D’Orhy, who has since won the Silviniaco Conti Chase well.

“She was a little bit short that day but she has since finished third behind Zambella and Annie Mc at Doncaster but she will be firing on all cylinders at Huntingdon.”

Although not wanting to dwell on his time living with cancer Mahon has admitted that Pink Legend helped brighten up what was a difficult period of his life.

He added: “The cancer was a tough time for everyone but the horses kept me going. I’m trying to forget about that part of my life. I’m looking forwards and trying to be positive now.

“Pink Legend won one day at Bangor while I was undergoing chemotherapy and that gave me a real boost when I was quite low.

“I’m fine now, but the main thing is Pink Legend and the horses are fine.”

Lining in opposition again will be the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Zambella. And while Mahon has plenty of respect for the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned mare he is confident a return to Huntingdon could tip the score back in Pink Legend’s favour.

He said: “We are two all with Zambella, but she generally starts shorter than us. We beat her when we finished second in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham and up at Perth.

“If you look at the Doncaster race she made two mistakes. We didn’t want to give Zambella a lead but Pink Legend jinked at the first and that gave the initiative to Zambella and you can’t give a horse of that calibre a 10 length start.

“Pink Legend came wide like she did at Cheltenham and she pecked at three out. She just got pipped for second by Annie Mc up the run in as I think she tried to make up the ground too quickly.

“Zambella is a very consistent mare and you can’t give her any kind of advantage, but this track will definitely suit us better.”

Last season Pink Legend went on to finish second in the Grade Two Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival - a race that will once again be on the agenda before she heads off to the breeding sheds.

Mahon added: “Hopefully she will come through this then we will probably put her away until Cheltenham. I think that might be it for her.

“We will then look for a nice sire for her to go to as she will be quite valuable as a broodmare.

“The one I would love to send her to Stradivarius, who stands at £10,000 which I think is quite reasonable. That’s something though to be looked at a little further down the line.”

While Mahon might only have a limited amount of time to enjoy Pink Legend on track he hopes her full sister Eleanor Bob can continue carrying his silks to glory once returning from a setback next season.

He added: “Eleanor Bob got a leg injury in September so following a discussion we decided to give her the year off.

“Venetia thinks she is a really nice prospect for those staying chases.

“She has only just turned eight and hopefully she will be back in the autumn for those long distance chases.”