On the darkest of days for the Danny O’Brien stable, King Of Leogrance (FR) provided some joy following a dominant performance in Monday’s $400,000 Group II Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville.
Earlier in the day, an O’Brien stable employee lost his life when he and the horse he was riding were hit by a car near the trainer’s Barwon Heads property.
Ridden by Damian Lane, King Of Leogrance (FR) was caught wide in the early stages after being snagged back to find some cover.
When a few riders showed some impatience, Lane remained cool. He found the back of Heart Of Grace who dragged King Of Leogrance (FR) into the race and by the time they straightened the imported son of Camelot had the field covered.
Coming off a win in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality at Flemington, King Of Leogrance (FR) defeated Good Idea (So You Think) by two and a quarter lengths with Chouxting The Mob (Jimmy Choux) three-quarter of a length back in third.
“It’s obviously a very difficult time for the stable, Lane said.
“The only bit I had to do in the race was to make sure he didn’t stop and wait for them when I got to them because he cantered up. He is such a progressive type, whether they set him for a Sydney Cup or go to the Andrew Ramsden to get him in the Melbourne Cup, there is no ceiling on him yet, he’s still improving.”
Part-owner Nick Williams said the son of Epsom Derby hero Camelot has a bright future.
“We’re always dreaming about it (Melbourne Cup). We will get him home and see what to do with him next,” Williams said.
“It’s only his third run in this time so we might look at going to Sydney in a month’s time, we’ll see. We will let him tell us how he gets through this. It’s a big ask for them to go to two miles the first time so we will see how we go but he looks like a horse we will have a bit of fun with.”
Purchased for 200,000 euros by Charlie Gordon Watson at the 2016 Arqana August Yearling Sale, King of Leogrance (FR) is the best of two winners out of the Halling mare Amourette, who hails from the family of Group II Moonee Valley Cup winner Al Maheb.
He is one of 26 stakes-winners for Camelot (IRE) who is also the sire of the Williams’ family’s Group 1 Irish Derby winner Latrobe who was unplaced in last year Melbourne Cup.
