Progressive stayer Leonchroi scored a narrow victory in the Geelong Homes BM70 Handicap (2400m) at the standalone meeting at Geelong on Saturday under a perfectly-timed run by Logan Bates.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Contributer looks an improving staying type and had previously finished runner-up to Shockletz at Pakenham.
Leonchroi started a $3 favourite in an event that was held up with three late scratchings at the gates with jockey Jason Maskiell taken to hospital after a barrier mishap on Star Testymony.
“We were following the right ones where we were able to get out eventually, probably a little bit later than I would have liked,” Bates said.
“But one thing I do know about him, he’s got a good turn of foot for a stayer, which not many of them have.
“He was a couple kilos up in the weights today, but I still trusted he would have that zip to put himself there and in the end he just did enough.
“He’s not the greatest beginner and he stepped okay considering all the commotion we had pre-race and we got into not a bad spot following one of the key runners and it just had to drag us in and the horse did the rest.
“He’s a lovely horse and he’s a promising stayer.”
Raced by Grand Syndicates, the four-year-old gelding has now won two of his nine starts with a further four placings. Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr said the horse would now have a break and return a better horse next campaign.
Bred by Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison, Leonchroi is by proven sire Contributer out of Miss Lioness, a half-sister to high-class stayer Lion Tamer.