BIRDMAN & LAND LEGEND TAKE FLIGHT

Last weekend (16/8/25) Chris Waller trained Cups hopefuls Birdman and Land Legend got their spring campaigns off to flying starts.

Both were contesting the 1400m handicap on a Heavy 8 surface at Rosehill in their first start for the 2025 spring campaign. Birdman started the better of the two settling in the second last pair while Land Legend took a place on the fence in second last.

After trialling very well in the lead up to his first start Birdman loomed ominously as the field turned into the straight. The northern hemisphere gelding (foaled Feb 2021) may have won but for a delay in seeing open space in the home straight. He eventually finished 0.25L 2nd to favourite War Eternal, who was having his third start of this preparation and is much more suited to the distance.

The run of Land Legend certainly took me by surprise. Unlike Birdman (3rd favourite @$6.50), Land Legend started the race as the rank outsider but stormed home with the fastest final 600m, beating Birdman’s effort by 0.21 secs. That’s more than a length. However, we do have to put the run into perspective. It was on a Heavy track with plenty of horses on their return from spell.

Both Birdman and Land Legend are not nominated to run this weekend (30th August) but at this stage both are nominated for the Caulfield Cup and in a week’s time we will likely see their names amongst Melbourne Cup nominations.

Stay tuned to the Staying The Distance (YouTube/Rumble/Bitchute) video channel for our regular Order Of Entry prediction video soon.