John Leek Junior received the confidence booster he was looking for with Affluential (NZ) (Zed) heading towards the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool when he narrowly took out the TAB We’re On (2500m) at Flemington.
At his last start Affluential, the younger brother of Melbourne Cup winner and superstar stayer Verry Elleegant, was pulled out of the M.J. Bourke Hurdle and was subsequently found to have suffered cardiac arrythmia.
“That was what we wanted to see that he was back in form to confirm he’s back on track for the Galleywood on Wednesday,” Leek Jnr said.
“We can now go to Warrnambool knowing he’s right on top of his game. I think he’s a great jumper and hopefully he can give me my first Galleywood. He’ll be going into the race at the top of his game,” he said.
Affluential was ridden by Jye McNeil and he got up in the final stride to defeat Fernao in a photo.
Perth’s biggest owner Bob Peters sent Affluential to Leek in 2024 and he peeled off six consecutive wins mixing flat and jumps races before he finished second in a flat race at Warrnambool.
He then won the 2024 Grand National Hurdle before Peters took him back home to race at the end of the year.
That was his fourth start this campaign.
Leek Jnr and his wife Andrea are heading to Warrnambool on Monday where they will have several runners in addition to Affluential.
“We have three in the maiden hurdles on Tuesday and Heir To The Throne in the Brierly Steeplechase,” Leek Jnr said.
“If Heir To The Throne runs well he will back up in the Grand Annual.”