The abandonment of racing at Waverley on Sunday proved to be a blessing in disguise for local trainer Sam Lennox, with his sole runner breaking maiden ranks at the transferred meeting on Tuesday.
Four-year-old gelding Leinster (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was resuming in the Forest 360 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m) following a year hiatus from racing, and Lennox was hopeful of a bold showing first-up.
The son of Darci Brahma jumped well and was taken straight to the lead by jockey Chris Dell. Leinster was attacked through the middle stages by Silent Bid, and while headed, he didn’t allow his foe to cross, keeping his spot on the rail and continued his run to score a 1-1/4 length victory over Kyboshe.
Lennox said Leinster would have been a doubtful starter on Sunday on the rain-affected track, and thought the strong winds in the area had helped dry out the track in the lead-up to Tuesday’s race, which proved fortunate for his charge.
“I was probably going to scratch on Sunday. We have been waiting with him for better tracks,” Lennox said. “With the improvement (of the track) with the wind I thought I might get away with it, but I wasn’t expecting him to do that.”
Lennox purchased Leinster out of Seaton Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $20,000.
“He was a lovely horse but he had an x-ray issue. He has a bad foot, which will probably hold him back,” Lennox said. “It is probably the only reason I could afford him.”
Lennox said his sire Darci Brahma was also a big selling point, having had plenty of luck with the progeny of the former The Oaks Stud stallion, including stakes winner Sergeant Blast.
“I have always had a good affinity with the Darci Brahmas, I have had a bit of luck selling them and racing a handy one or two,” he said.
Leinster proved to be a handy early three-year-old last season, placing on his home track in each of his two starts behind subsequent stakes winner No Rain Ever and Group Three performer Merchant Queen.
However, Leinster caught a virus following his last start placing 12 months ago, which curtailed his three-year-old season.
“When he ran second here 12 months ago, the next day there was snot pouring out of his nose and we just couldn’t clean it up,” Lennox said. “He was still coughing at Christmas time, it is something I have never seen before, it was unbelievable.
“I knew he wasn’t a wet tracker, so I thought I would give him another six months and got him back in in May.
“It is a shame he was out for this three-year-old year but who knows, it could be a blessing, he has strengthened up a bit.”
While Leinster is a New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Lennox didn’t make the payment to make him a Karaka Million eligible horse, something he is ruing after losing the chance to secure the $25,000 bonus after Tuesday’s win in the Mega Maiden Series race.
“I had never entered one for a Karaka Million before, and I got in touch with them and I had just missed the boat by about a week. I am kicking myself now, it would have been a good investment,” he said.
While ruing a lost opportunity, Lennox is looking forward to the future with Leinster, but has yet to finalise what his next test will be.
“I haven’t thought past today, I wasn’t really expecting that,” he said. “I am still adamant that once the tracks firm up he will be better, he has such a beautiful action.”
