Pedigree enthusiasts would have noted the result of Monday’s 3000-metre Benchmark 70 at Mornington immediately, with two kiwi bred full brothers of Melbourne Cup winners fighting out the finish.
The seven-horse field contained Affluential (NZ) (Zed), the brother of late 2021 Cup winner Verry Elleegant, and Heir To The Throne (NZ) (Pentire), the brother of 2015 Cup victor Prince Of Penzance.
And as it turned out, the pair would quinella the race, with just a nose separating the well-related stayers in a thrilling go on the line.
John Leek Jnr’s Affluential ($1.80) loomed on the turn and looked an easy winner at the 100-metre mark, but some mid-race pulling and 62kg took its toll late.
Heir To The Throne ($6.50), coincidentally trained by Leek Jnr’s wife Andrea, had saved ground under Teo Nugent and began to close rapidly on Affluential, but just missed with a last-gasp dive.
Leaving aside the scarcely believable quinella, it was a tough win by the son of Zed, who carried 62kg, though this was an 8kg drop on his last-start second in the Galleywood Hurdle, which followed a gutsy win at Flemington.
Though Leek Jnr would’ve preferred a lot more sting out of the Mornington track on Monday, assuming Affluential comes through the win well, he seems to be perfectly placed ahead of Sunday’s Australian Hurdle at Sandown.
Conversely, Heir To The Throne will contest the Australian Steeple, with a rider yet to be booked.
“I’m happy with the win, but I probably didn’t want to run him on such a hard surface,” Leek Jnr said.
“But anyway, I’m very happy and happy for Andrea’s horse. It’s in the Australian Steeple on Sunday, and she’s looking for a rider.
“So, any of you jumps jockeys that need a ride in the Australian Steeple, you better give her a call.”