LAST season’s top two-year-old colt Lombo Leonardo returned to the winner’s circle with a game effort in a 3A0 over 2200m in Launceston on Sunday night to possibly earn a trip interstate.
Lombo Leonardo began only fairly from a wide gate and was allowed to drift to the rear by his trainer-driver Grant Hodges.
But when the pace slackened appreciably after the field had travelled about 500 metres Hodges sent his charge around the field to face the breeze outside of the leader Musselroe Bay.
When Hodges called on his charge to extend the son of Bettors Delight strode clear and had enough in reserve to hold out the fast-finishing Hesione (Barrie Rattray) with Musselroe Bay hanging on for third just in advance of Miss Stately.
It was Lombo Leonardo’s second start this season, coming off a first-up third in Launceston behind Nitro Blue two weeks earlier.
Hodges was pleased with the gelding’s performance.
“I might back him up here in Launceston next week and if he wins that I’ll more than likely freshen him up and take him to Victoria for a C0 race,” Hodges said.
“There’s a $5000 bonus on offer for Victorian bred three-year-olds when they win their C0 over there so I’d like to get him over there before too many of the locals advance to that grade,” he said.
Lombo Leonardo was purchased by Chris Schofield at the APG yearling sale in Melbourne last year.
Schofield was keen to buy one by Bettors delight and he had four marked in his catalogue.
“I had one on day one and three on day two of the sale and this horse (Lombo Leonardo) was on the first day but I couldn’t get over to Melbourne in time for the sale so I had Grant look at him and I bid on the phone and we got him for $10,000.”
“It’s a good thing I got this one because the other three sold for more than my budget,” he said.