Golden Kathleen gave Leonardo Da Hinchi a winner with his first runner when she gave her rivals a towelling in the $80,000 Nixon Electrical Plate (1100m) at Bunbury on Saturday.
The Gold Front Thoroughbreds stallion was unbeaten in late-season juvenile starts at Echuca and Sandown and he kept improving at three to land the G2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) as an odds-on favourite at Moonee Valley.
His stock were expected to develop along similar lines and he may well have sired a special one first-up in Golden Kathleen.
The Russell Stewart-trained filly worked into the race after a slow getaway and was poised to pounce on tearaway leader Live Lucky (Written By) at the top of the straight.
Photo / Western Racepix
“She did that with absolute class!” Gold Front posted on Facebook. “And if you needed any convincing about Leonardo da Hinchi, the run we just witnessed by his first masterpiece should do the trick!”
She scored by three lengths and it could have been more if Michael Poy had pushed her out in the final stages. “There would have been a few eyes on her today, being the first Leonardo da Hinchi to hit the track,” Stewart said. “She’s not bad for a $3,000 purchase.”
Part-owner Adam Kenyon bought a bargain at that price at last year’s Inglis July (Early) Digital Sale and her first pay-day was $43,840 at the meeting that was transferred from Ascot to the south-west due to heatwave conditions in the city.
Golden Kathleen (2f Leonardo Da Hinchi – Hopetoun by Pins) was bred by Tom & Ann Croucher and Stephanie Mitchell trading under Foxton Bloodstock. They also have her yearling half-sister from the final crop of I’m All The Talk.
Their dam Hopetoun is a NZ-bred Ascot winner who traces back to Kiwi stayers Waisake (G3 Wellington Cup) and Monachee (LR Dunedin Gold Cup).
Gold Front’s colt from Fine Approach (Lot 249) is the sole yearling for sale by Leonardo da Hinchi at the Perth Magic Millions on Friday week, 23 February. “He’s a robust colt and has a bit of stature already,” Gold Front’s Sue Olive said in a recent interview. “There’s plenty of bone just like ‘Leo’ and he’s been handling the sale prep like a pro.”
