It was another perfect steer by the man of the moment, Willie Pike, on the West Australian-trained gelding Laverrod in the $200,000 Listed Neds Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on Saturday.
Coming from back in the field, Laverrod defeated How Womantic (The Wow Signal) by three-quarters of a length with Hightail (Written Tycoon) a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Trained by Sean and Jake Casey, Laverrod earned his stakes breakthrough after placing in five black-type races in the west.
The 4yo geldeding is a son of Swettenham Stud’s high-flying Toronado (IRE), who was responsible for Pike’s Group 1 winner Masked Crusader in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Laverrod advanced his record to six wins, six seconds and six thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $482,280.
Pike said he will not be going overboard in celebrating his 4-timer.
“A cup of tea and a block of chocolate. That’ll be it,” he said.
“His (Laverrod) form has always been good but I suppose at different times he can be a bit patchy. I just said to Jake that he’s a lovely big strong horse but he’s not as strong mentally as his body is.
“Today I thought I’d ride him a bit softer, not quite expecting to be where I was but I was just hoping to not be in the breeze. I think the speed up front was good and he got to run onto them and he enjoyed it.”
Sean and Jake Casey were celebrating a second winner on the day after Dom To Shoot in the Mornington Guineas.
“He’s been knocking on the door and he got everything go his way today so we’re really happy,” Jake Casey said.
“He mainly just came over with Dom To Shoot to have a few races here as there’s not a lot there (in WA) for him with his rating being so high. It’s good that they both got the job done today.”
A $140,000 pinhook by James Bester out of the Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm draft at the 2017 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Laverrod made $270,000 to the bid of Yenrise Pty Ltd, when offered by Coolmore Stud at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Bred by Brett Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock and partners, Laverrod is the best of four winners from as many to race out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Demasheen.
A winner at Caulfield and Morphettville from eight starts, Demasheen was purchased by Whitling Bloodstock for $120,000 out of the Glenesk Thoroughbreds draft at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Laverrod becomes the 11th stakes-winner for the High Chaparral stallion Toronado (IRE).
