Lightly raced four year-olds Leebaz and Entirely Platinum are poised to make their mark in coming weeks, the former saluting at Warwick Farm last Thursday in a Benchmark 85 event and the latter tasting his first Black Type success with a strong win in the Group III ATC Sky High Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday.
Entirely Platinum was bought by Hawkes Racing for $520,000 at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, making him the most expensive yearling by his sire Pentire (GB) sold in 2011.
A winner of five of his 13 starts with prizemoney topping $220,000, Entirely Platinum is a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Group I winner Penny Gem and is the second stakes-winner for his dam Platinum Blond joining Group III winner Foxy Blonde.
A $460,000 NZB Premier purchase, a again from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, Leebazhas won five of seven starts and is a half-brother to Group II winner Polish Knight from stakes-winner Polish Princess (GB).
Sue Schick of Windsor Park Stud emailed us on Sunday night with an interesting story about these two rising stars who have been mates since they were babies.
"The two colts were paddock mates from birth and were branded 51 and 52 of that crop of foals," Schick recalled.
"They both went on to the Karaka sales where they were Lots 490 and 491 and they were both purchased by Hawkes Racing.
"They chose to leave the two colts here for a year after purchase, and this is a picture I took of them during their time at Halidon Hill our property associated with Windsor Park."
While the two no doubt cross paths in a friendly fashion in the course of their daily routine, a race day clash may be on the cards with both likely to be nominated for the Group III ATC Neville Sellwood Stakes on Slipper Day.
