How trainer Leah Gravanich turned ‘slow and lazy’ Know Thyself into a serious racehorse

Leah Gavranich stepped in when Know Thyself was slow and lazy in trackwork. The transformation was extraordinary as the gelding chases another big-money race win at Gosford.

The superbly-bred colt with the conformation to match was disappointingly slow and lazy in trackwork.

In frustration, co-trainer Leah Gavranich decided one morning to ride the two-year-old herself – and what happened next left her stunned.

“He was one of those horses that early on when still a colt he was very lazy in his gallops,’’ Gavranich recalled.

“His original rider couldn’t even get him to go even time on the track.

“But I thought ‘I’m not having this’ so I jumped on him and gave him a bit of rev up to get him on the bridle.

“Immediately I could feel the power underneath me. In the space of two weeks, I gave him four pieces of work and I knew then he was a very good horse.’’

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Fast forward two years and that same colt is now a gelding named Know Thyself, already the winner of six of his nine starts including the $1m Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick last month.

Gavranich, who trains in partnership with Paul Messara these days, has been Know Thyself’s regular track rider ever since that morning when she took matters in her own hands.

“I ride him all the time now and he just gives you a different feel to other horses,’’ she said.

“It’s the way he drives with his back legs, it’s so powerful but effortless at the same time.’’

Messara said Gavranich and Know Thyself share a “special bond”.

“Leah has ridden him right through and knows the horse so well,’’ Messara said.

“She gets very attached to her horses and Know Thyself falls into her pet category. She spends half the day grooming and feeding him.’’

But Messara said Gavranich’s understanding of Know Thyself and her feedback about the horse’s wellbeing is invaluable.

“Good riders are such an important part of the puzzle in training,’’ he said.

On Saturday, Know Thyself is poised to win another big-money race in the Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at the Gosford stand-alone meeting.

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In early TAB betting, Know Thyself is the $3.60 favourite ahead of Queensland raider Depth Of Character at $4.40 and Mare Of Mt Buller at $7.

Then its $10 or longer the rest.

Messara and Gavranich are in their second season as a training partnership and since August 1 they have prepared 32 winners on all tracks at an outstanding strike rate of nearly 29.4 per cent, or nearly one winner every three starters.

Know Thyself has led the stable charge this season and goes to Gosford chasing a fourth successive win.

The talented four-year-old followed his Country Championships defeat of Lisztomania and Fukubana with another Randwick win, this time over the famous 16000m course when he ran down his old rival Fukubana near the line.

Leah Gavranich has a “special bond” with Know Thyself, which helped bring out his talent. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“Know Thyself has a great will-to-win and we are really happy with the way he came through his last win,’’ Messara said.

“He’s a straight forward horse to train, he’s very fit and now it is just maintenance gallops between races. It’s all systems go for Gosford.’’

With regular rider Aaron Bullock unable to make Know Thyself’s 53kg impost, former jockey Ashley Morgan has been booked to partner the horse in The Coast.

Know Thyself could earn himself a Brisbane winter carnival campaign if he can continue his winning streak in The Coast.

“Brisbane is a possibility,’’ Messara said.

“I would love to give him a crack over 2000m to see how he goes.’’

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The Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) at Scone next Friday was also an option Arrowfield Stud supremo and owner John Messara was considering for Know Thyself.

But the Scone Cup is likely to attract a very good field and Know Thyself, with a rating of 86, was in danger of missing a start.

“We were concerned Know Thyself won’t get a run at Scone and a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,’’ John Messara said.

“If we wait for Scone what if we don’t get a run so we miss both races.’’

Know Thyself is impeccably bred by Arrowfield’s emerging champion sire The Autumn Sun out of the Dubawi mare, Mantra Of Life, and was in the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale three years ago.

But Paul Messara, who also manages Arrowfield Stud, had taken a particular liking to Know Thyself as a yearling and was reluctant to sell.

“I loved this horse as a type,’’ Paul Messara said.

“I told our partners in Mantra Of Life that her colt was so good we should put more than the $200,000 reserve we initially planned for him.

“In the end, we put a $300,000 reserve on the horse but he was passed in at $220,000.

“Our partners in the horse were obviously a bit disappointed so we decided to buy them out at $300,000.

“They were happy with that result and obviously we are happy with how Know Thyself has turned out on the racetrack which only makes his dam’s progeny even more valuable now.’’

Know Thyself winning the Country Championships Final last month. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

John Messara revealed he drew on his experiences in the breeding industry spanning more than five decades before making the difficult decision to geld the horse.

“Know Thyself was a very good-looking colt from an early crop by The Autumn Sun,’’ Messara said.

“But after Paul told me the colt needed gelding, I agreed immediately.

“I remember making a mistake with Danehill and particularly Redoute’s Choice when I didn’t geld some of their colts.

“I kept thinking we might have a stallion prospect here but quite a few colts that could have been serious racehorses didn’t quite make it.

“So, with The Autumn Sun we felt if there was any colt that needed gelding we wouldn’t hesitate as that would also help the sire get established.

“I think this comes with experience – when I was younger I kept thinking I have a stallion in the making but then nothing happens.’’

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Messara admitted he has taken great pride in watching the success his son and Gavranich have had as a training partnership and, in particular, Know Thyself’s Country Championships Final win last month.

“Paul and Leah are going very well, they are a good team, very dedicated,’’ he said.

“They get the horses we couldn’t take to the sales due to setbacks or injuries, they also get some of the pass-ins so they don’t get the cream of the crop but their stable is still doing really well.

“Know Thyself was home-bred by an emerging stallion and we felt early on he was a good horse in the making.

“I’ve learned over my years in racing that you can’t take anything for granted in this game but I got a lot of personal satisfaction watching Know Thyself win the Country Championships. I got as excited that day as I did 50 years ago.’’

Originally published as How trainer Leah Gravanich turned ‘slow and lazy’ Know Thyself into a serious racehorse