Kembla Grange, Moree Tuesday previews: Ron Leemon’s southbound buddies to strike up a double-act

Golden Rose-winning trainer Ron Leemon makes the familiar trip from Warwick Farm to Kembla Grange today with two of his string – born just a week apart and both showing a positive return on investment for connections.

Trainer Ron Leemon with his Golden Rose winner Manawanui at his Warwick Farm stables in Sydney. Picture Brett Costello

Golden Rose-winning trainer Ron Leemon makes the familiar trip from Warwick Farm to Kembla Grange today with two of his string – born just a week apart and both showing a positive return on investment for connections.

The five-year-old duo of Dapper Dancer and Euromaster were selected and purchased by Leemon at Inglis-run auctions in 2021.

Euromaster was knocked down to Manawanui’s trainer for $20,000 while Dapper Dancer was slightly less, coming in at $18,000.

Dapper Dancer’s somewhat meagre purchase price was in no way befitting of the occasion of his sale at Riverside, just next door to Leemon’s Manning Street digs.

The then-colt had the honour and singular distinction of being the last yearling sired by Testa Rossa to be offered at auction.

He was in fact one of only three foals from Testa Rossa’s 18th and final crop which altogether totalled 1248 foals.

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On top of that, Dapper Dancer was the last of his dam Joffa Rose’s ten foals, all of them designed and bred by Testa Rossa’s owner - John Cappellin.

While Testa Rossa was able to win 13 of his 28 starts including six Group 1s, Dapper Dancer’s CV is much less glamorous.

The chestnut has so far only managed one win and two minors from his 16 starts.

That said, he sent out some very positive and obvious signs that a second win was close at hand when a close and closing fourth at Kembla on May 17 over 1200m.

His mission on Tuesday is the Dapto Leagues Club Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m).

“I was very, very happy with his last run,” Leemon said.

“He didn’t have much luck. We couldn’t get out to the better going which we were hoping for but that’s the way it happens.

“He finished off nicely and we’ve got to go up in trip.

“He’s been placed over 1400m and obviously he is fitter now for the first couple of runs.

“He hadn’t raced for a while so I had to get him fit.

“The wet won’t worry him. I think the ground suits the Testa Rossas.”

👏 Apprentice Leeshelle Small rides her first winner as Dapper Dancer wins at @hawkesburyrc!@RonLeemonRacing @leesmelly11 pic.twitter.com/RozFBXiUTR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 14, 2024

Leemon’s second and last runner at Kembla on Tuesday is Euromaster who was foaled on September 11 in 2019, just seven days prior to Dapper Dancer’s birth at Vinery Stud (once home to Testa Rossa)

A son of Eurozone, Euromaster has finished first or second at six of his 13 starts.

And while only one of those was a win, Leemon can’t find fault with the bay whose earnings will edge closer to $100,000 if successful in today’s Midway Class 1 Handicap (1500m).

“He has only ever put one bad run in for me and that was this time back but there were plenty of excuses that day because he was coming back from a good spell,’’ Leemon explained.

“He needed that run badly but apart from that, he’s been very consistent and he can handle the wet too.”

Euromaster boasts a pedigree that is hard to match given it includes two Derby winners, Universal Prince (AJC) and Blevic (VRC), Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Think It Over and arguably one of the all time greats – Lammtarra.

Both of Leemon’s duo will be ridden by apprentice Olivia Chambers whose own tally of winners is an impressive 108.

“She’s only had two rides for me,’’ Leemon says.

“She is a very pleasant young lady. If she gets a few more opportunities, I think she can probably ride winners in town if she gets on the right horses.”

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Casey chases the cash with Ode So Much

He bred him, owns him and trains him but Scone horseman Simon Casey is keeping his expectations in check ahead of today’s long awaited racetrack debut of Ode So Much at Moree.

The son of Churchill is giving away race experience to all seven of his rivals in the Racing Mates Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1200m) but showed enough natural ability in his two trials to garner support among punters.

As for Casey, he is cautiously optimistic that the blue-blooded bay can post an early win and pocket the $15,000 first prize at the same time.

“I am definitely happy with his trials but you never know what’s in them,’’ Casey said

“The horse he ran behind (in his Gunnedah trial) ran on Sunday and didn’t fire. I’m more hopeful than confident.

“How many times have you seen a horse win two or three trials and go out at $1.80 and get rolled?

“I am taking him there because I think, in the current climate of competitive racing, it is probably the right place for him and if he comes out and blows them away, then we can always come back to the better quality.”

Ode So Much is making his debut at Moree but given his pedigree, it could just as easily have been Newmarket, Chantilly or Santa Anita.

That’s all down to dam-sires like Dylan Thomas, More Than Ready, Slew O’Gold and the immortal Northern Dancer.

Casey’s other runner at Moree is perhaps ever better bred, namely Nevermista, who was the tenth foal of bonny mare Vormista.

Despite his family ties, Nevermista was knocked down for a mere $10,000 when offered up at the 2021 Inglis Weanling Sale in 2021.

“He’s been a work in progress,” Casey said. “He’s got the worst conformation in the world.

“He hits himself if he gets a bump, that’s how much clearance he has in his action, but he has ability as was shown when he won at Tamworth.

“He is unfortunately one of those horses where everything has to go his way but on Tuesday he has got the right draw.

“He should get a good run in transit just behind the speed and if he can do that, I would have thought he shouldn’t be far away in that field.”