It was an emotional John Leek after Affluential (NZ) (Zed) provided him with what he described as the best moment of his training career with his tough win in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown Lakeside.
The win also gave former English jockey Will Gordon his first feature win as a jumps jockey in Australia.
Gordon said it was an amazing effort by Affluential as he over-raced for most of the race and then had to fight in the closing stages to hold off a late challenge from runner-up The Good Fight (NZ) (High Chaparral).
It was Leek’s second Grand National Hurdle win with his other success in 2004 with Team Heritage when the race was held at Flemington.
As Leek pointed out Team Heritage was ridden by his wife Andrea on that occasion.
Leek’s relationship with Perth‘s leading owner Bob Peters over the past two years was the reason he secured the younger brother of 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant.
Leek said Affluential was the only horse Peters had sent to him to train as a jumper.
Leek identified the Grand National Hurdle as Affluential’s main target at the start of the campaign.
Affluential began his career over jumps at Pakenham in April and is now undefeated in four starts over the jumps.
Affluential hit the front early in the straight, which concerned Leek as he knew he had raced fiercely and also he has a habit of stopping when he hits the front.
“He was on the steel. When the other horse came to him I thought, ‘Oh God,’ but he had something left in the locker,” Leek said.
“He does switch off a bit, he doesn’t stop trying, but he doesn’t try as hard when he hits the front.”
Gordon said it was a tough ride as Affluential wanted to over-race throughout.
“At no stage did I feel comfortable,” Gordon said.
Gordon said he wanted to get a major race on his CV and was glad he had finally done so.
“This is super satisfying. We targeted this race from a long way out so it’s pretty special,” Gordon said.
Affluential was purchased out of Grangewilliam Stud’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $140,000 by bloodstock agent John Chalmers, on behalf of leading Perth owner Bob Peters.
