At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
A $650,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock from the Yulong draft, the flashy Written Tycoon filly has been given the name Leongatha… now synonymous with the mushroom murder trial of Erin Patterson.
She was found guilty of murdering three of her lunch guests and doing serious damage to a fourth after they enjoyed a beef wellington dish laced with death cap mushrooms.
Leongatha the horse will hopefully become famous for better reasons and she looked more than promising racing to a length and a half win in the 1100m maiden for the Price Kent stable with Thomas Stockdale on board.
Leongatha is the second winner from Group III winning More than Ready (USA) mare Kooweerup, a daughter of Group I winner Allez Wonder.
The Price Kent stable struck again in the next race with Spirit of Boom colt Poker, who scored by a length for Craig Williams in the 1100m maiden for colts and geldings.
A $280,000 purchase from the Magic Millions run Strawberry Hill Dispersal Sale for his trainers, Poker runs for and ownership group that includes Eureka Stud, who stands his sire Spirit of Boom.
He is a sibling to stakes-winner Eawase and stakes-placed Bezique and Sensical being the fifth winner from seven foals to race from Group III winning Magic Millions 2YO Classic heroine Karuta Queen.
Lindsay Park racing produced a debut victory in the 1300m maiden for expensive NZB Ready to Race purchase Romantic Encounter, a son of 2020 European Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath (IRE).
Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, he scored a long neck and was strong through the line.
Romantic Encounter was a mega successful pinhook having been bought by PR Thoroughbreds / Lindsay Park Racing from the Phoenix Park draft at the NZB Ready to Run Sale for $425,000 after being pinhooked by Ka Ying Rising’s breeder Fraser Auret for $60,000 from the Wentwood Grange draft at Karaka Book 2.
Romantic Encounter is the first foal of an Australian bred winning mare with a US pedigree in Romantic Touch, who is by Medaglia D’Oro from US stakes-winner Love to Tell.
He breezed in 10.27 seconds and looked good doing it!
