Le Don De Vie (GB) had some useful form in Britain for Andrew Balding and Hughie Morrison, hence his hefty €460,000 purchase price at the 2019 Goff London Sale.
The son of Zaaki’s sire Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) proved a frustrating character for Anthony and Sam Freedman with a lone win in the Listed Warrnambool Cup to show in his eleven starts for the stable.
Transferred to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Le Don De Vie (GB) gave Tuvulu 4kgs and a beating over 1600m at Flemington on May 21.
The 6yo gelding stepped up in grade to the Group II QEII at Eagle Farm and didn’t strike a blow, some five and a half lengths behind the winner Numerian(IRE).
With Nash Rawiller in the saddle for Saturday’s Listed Landsborough Hotel Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast, Le Don De Vie (GB) found conditions to suit. With the field spread out over half the length of the straight, Le Don De Vie (GB) came with a sweeping run down the centre of the track to defeat Arapaho (FR) (Lope De Vega) by two and three-quarter lengths with Pappalino (FR) (Makfi) a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
“He made a meal of a few sections of the track, but I was able to keep him balanced and improve into it,” Rawiller said.
“He had a fair bit on them.
“I’m sure there is something (for him) in the spring.
“Full credit to the team. They had him in beautiful order today.
Speaking from Melbourne, David Eustice said they might have got the tactics wrong in the QEII.
"The Q22 was a complete disaster and probably got the wrong instructions,” Eustice said.
“He was held up, never got a run. I think he’d have run a big race that day.
“He showed some good form here, and it was nice win.
“There is nothing special planned for him. He’s a gelding racing in good form, and we’ll chip away. He’ll probably go back to Sydney - he likes wet ground.
“The Metropolitan is the race you’d think to target, but there’s probably going to be some younger, fresher legs there.”
Yet another Australian feature race winner bred by Kirsten Rausing, Le Don De Vie (GB) was purchased by Andrew Balding for 50,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
After winning the Listed August Stakes at Windsor, Le Don De Vie (GB) was in the Highclere consignment to the Goffs London Sale, where Howson/Houldsworth/Group 1 B/S/ Aziz Kheir shelled out €460,000, the third-highest price lot of the sale.
The 6yo gelding is the best of two winners from three to race from the 6-time Winning Selkirk mare Leaderene.
Out of the stakes-placed Shareef Dancer mare La Felicita, Leaderene is a half-sister to Group 1 Prix de l'Opera winner Lady Marion (Nayef), and Group III winner Lucidor (Zafonic).
Lady Marion is the dam of dual Group II winner Loxley (New Approach).
