Big Weekend for Toronado as Laverrod Captures the Hareeba Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday March 20

It was another perfect steer by the man of the moment, Willie Pike, on the West Australian-trained gelding Laverrod in the $200,000 Listed Neds Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on Saturday.

Laverrod opens his stakes account (image Grant Courtney)

Coming from back in the field, Laverrod defeated How Womantic (The Wow Signal) by three-quarters of a length with Hightail (Written Tycoon) a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.

Trained by Sean and Jake Casey, Laverrod earned his stakes breakthrough after placing in five black-type races in the west.

Advertisement

The 4yo geldeding is a son of Swettenham Stud’s high-flying Toronado (IRE), who was responsible for Pike’s Group 1 winner Masked Crusader in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Laverrod advanced his record to six wins, six seconds and six thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $482,280.

Pike said he will not be going overboard in celebrating his 4-timer.

“A cup of tea and a block of chocolate. That’ll be it,” he said.

“His (Laverrod) form has always been good but I suppose at different times he can be a bit patchy. I just said to Jake that he’s a lovely big strong horse but he’s not as strong mentally as his body is.

“Today I thought I’d ride him a bit softer, not quite expecting to be where I was but I was just hoping to not be in the breeze. I think the speed up front was good and he got to run onto them and he enjoyed it.”

Four from four for Willie Pike (image Grant Courtney)

Sean and Jake Casey were celebrating a second winner on the day after Dom To Shoot in the Mornington Guineas.

“He’s been knocking on the door and he got everything go his way today so we’re really happy,” Jake Casey said.

“He mainly just came over with Dom To Shoot to have a few races here as there’s not a lot there (in WA) for him with his rating being so high. It’s good that they both got the job done today.”

A $140,000 pinhook by James Bester out of the Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm draft at the 2017 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Laverrod made $270,000 to the bid of Yenrise Pty Ltd, when offered by Coolmore Stud at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Laverroad a $270,000 yearling

Bred by Brett Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock and partners, Laverrod is the best of four winners from as many to race out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Demasheen.

A winner at Caulfield and Morphettville from eight starts, Demasheen was purchased by Whitling Bloodstock for $120,000 out of the Glenesk Thoroughbreds draft at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Laverrod becomes the 11th stakes-winner for the High Chaparral stallion Toronado (IRE).

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Hareeba Stakes LR 1200m

Mornington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:10.03
1
Laverrod
- 4g Toronado (IRE) x Demasheen (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: W Pike 54
2
0.8
How Womantic
- 4m The Wow Signal (IRE) x Banderilla (AUS) (Delzao (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
3
2.1
Hightail
- 4g Written Tycoon (AUS) x La Paris (AUS) (Falvelon (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: M J Dee 54
4
2.2
Ancestry
- 4g The Brothers War (USA) x Maltese (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: L Nolen 58.5
5
4.1
I'm Telling Ya
- 7g Reward For Effort (AUS) x Rapid Sensation (AUS) (Success Express (USA))
Tnr: Amy & Ash Yargi Rdr: D Yendall 54
6
5.3
Sirius Suspect
- 6g Wanted (AUS) x Sirius Miss (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: Patrick Moloney 56
7
5.5
Bons Away
- 7g Bon Hoffa (AUS) x Villa Albani (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: Ms W Kelly Rdr: Dean Holland 54.5
8
6.3
Blaze Forth
- 8g Court Command (AUS) x Certain Blaze (AUS) (Blazing Saddles (AUS))
Tnr: J K Blacker Rdr: C Newitt 54
9
8.3
Outrageous
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Fit And Ready (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Will Price 56
More Reading...
2025 NZB Ready to Run Catalogue Online - World’s Most Successful 2YO Sale
The catalogue for the 2025 edition of the leading sale of two-year-olds is now online and in mailboxes, with NZB excited to unveil another stellar offering at the Ready to Run Sale.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO - Changing of the Guard?
Last Saturday, spring kicked into overdrive and we saw three Group races for 3YO colts and geldings that included the winners of last season’s GI MRC Blue Diamond, G1ATC Sires Produce and the Golden Slipper runner-up, but none of them could land a blow.
Melbourne Racing Club Announces Official Trial Schedule for 2025–26
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) is thrilled to announce a comprehensive schedule of 15 Official Trials across the 2025–26 season, providing an essential service to trainers, owners and jockeys while addressing the industry’s increasing need for metropolitan grass access.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 31
Here is the full list of 63 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Vale, Robert Priscott
Former Group One-winning trainer Robert Priscott has passed away.
One to Watch – Ballarat
An Ole Kirk filly from a famous female family started a short priced favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly got the cash.
Exciting Castelvecchio 3YO Quantum Legend Headed to HK
Tony Pike’s powers of persuasion have come up short against the money on offer in Hong Kong.
Via Sistina Crowned Australian Horse of the Year
Via Sistina (IRE) has been honoured at a great many awards events in the past couple of months and the Yulong owned daughter of champion sire Fastnet Rock took the big one in Brisbane on Sunday.