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Racecards
PEDIGREE ANALYSIS
I
n a year where there are plenty of regallybred types set to line up at Flemington, King Of Leogrance is something of a renegade in that there is very little by way
of talent on his pedigree page. In fact, the most significant performer from his first four generations is Al Maheb (Riverman), the son of King Of Leogrance’s
(Halling) was stakes-placed, while third
race, with King Of Leogrance joined by Russian
fourth dam Une Amazone (Youth) who won the
dam Amnesia (Septieme Ciel) produced
Camelot and Sir Dragonet.
Prix Kergorlay (Gr 2, 3000m) and the Doncaster
American Grade 3 winner Royal Copenhagen
Cup (Gr 3, 2m 2f ) in 1990 before shipping to
(Inchinor).
Australia to win the Moonee Valley Cup (Gr 2, 2600m) in 1991. He would later finish seventh to Let’s Elope (Nassipour) in the 1991 Melbourne Cup. King Of Leogrance’s dam Amourette
THE STORY
K
Further back, the family does include Prix
a breeder came with Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Royal Oak (Gr 1, 3100m) victor Henri Le Balafre
(Gr 1, 2400m) winner Urban Sea (Miswaki); she
(Sassafras), so there was some inherent staying
herself is the dam of the world’s leading stallion
blood there.
Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and his champion half-
Sire Camelot has three runners in this year’s King Of Leogrance will be aiming to Cup and the Melbourne Cup in the same year since Subzero (Kala Dancer), the
in
immensely popular grey who died earlier
France
with
Jean-Claude
five starts, including the Prix
Vulcain (Listed, 2500m) at Deauville in 2018.
brother Sea The Stars (Cape Cross).
become the first horse to win the Adelaide
ing Of Leogrance began his career Rouget, winning three of his first
King Of Leogrance was bred by the late Michel Henochsberg, whose greatest success as
ANDREW’S ASSESSMENT
this year. He is one of three runners - and the only “local” - for the race’s most successful
The draw makes things difficult for King
He showed glimpses of talent in his first
owner Lloyd Williams, while he is one of four
Of Leogrance - and not just because he
Australian preparation last spring, but he
representatives for defending champion Danny
jumps from the only barrier never to have
put it all together for his second campaign
O’Brien.
produced a Melbourne Cup winner! A wide passage awaits unless Damian
during the autumn. In quick succession, he
Jockey Damian Lane, who won the
won the Roy Higgins Quality (Listed, 2600m)
Golden Slipper, the Caulfield Cup and the
Lane produces a gem of a ride - which, to
and the Adelaide Cup (Gr 2, 3200m), while
Cox Plate last year, will take his fifth ride in
be fair, he is capable of producing.
he was denied a ballot-exempt position in the
the Melbourne Cup, having achieved his best
Otherwise, King Of Leogrance ticks a lot
Melbourne Cup when second to Oceanex in the
result when sixth on Mer De Glace (Rulership)
of boxes. He’s a two-mile winner, he has
Andrew Ramsden Stakes (Listed, 2800m).
last year.
upside and he looks to be getting in well
Disappointing
in
at the weights. His lead-up performance
a
slowly-run race first-up in
in the Geelong Cup was good and he
the Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1,
appears to be hitting his straps at the
2000m), his performance
right time.
in the Geelong Cup (Gr
A top-ten finish is still possible, but he will
3, 2400m) was everything
have to be very good to win from there.
you would hope to see
It’s not entirely impossible, but he looms
from a Melbourne Cup
as more of a place chance here.
perspective.
Still, include him in all exotics.
Sneaking up the inside and inheriting the lead under Damian Lane, he weakened late on ground that was considered inferior.
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King Of Leogrance
COOLMORE
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