KINGS Of Leon made it two wins in succession as he indicated he has a bright sprinting career when the strapping son of I Am Invincible returned from a spell to snare Sunday’s $50,000 FSDP John Clift Memorial Benchmark 70 Showcase Handicap (1000m) at Tamworth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Matthew Smith-trained three-year-old gelding had won his maiden at Gosford last August and then spelled following six previous starts.
On Sunday he returned in dynamic fashion while his master – Smith, “spelled” in Vietnam. Travelling foreman Jorden McMahon was in charge as Smith continued to holiday and was still celebrating a good win at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
“We took two to Hawkesbury and won the fifth with Rebel Miss,” he said.
“We brought another two up today. Been a lot of travelling but worth it.”
Kings Of Leon gave winning jockey Greg Ryan a good feel as the Dubbo horseman notched a winning treble.
“You will win a few more with him,” Ryan told McMahon as he unsaddled.
“I got a nice run, sat in behind and won very well. Beautiful.”
McMahon said Kings Of Leon had the makings of a very good horse and was delighted the stable could win such a prestigious race named in honour of one of country racing’s stalwarts, John Clift.
Earlier Allazin continued to bloom when he overpowered his rivals to win the $40,00 Goodwin Kenny Mornington Showcase Handicap (2100m).
The Graham Hoy trained and owned gelding, bought for just $25,000, has now won more than $132,000.
He was handed the run of the race by Peter Graham, surging to a length and quarter win from Brett Cavanough’s Avroson with Justin Blanch’s Bob’s A Dazzler a battling third, a short head away.
Wauchope-based Hoy doesn’t mind travelling inland. He once won the Glen Innes Cup with a horse called Parasang.
“He was second but the third horse, a local, protested and got the protest,” Hoy recalled of a verdict that catapulted Parasang to Cup victory.
“We celebrated all the way home even though we had a blowout and puncture.”