HORSE RACING

MATT Laurie has produced yet another winner from the offspring of talented broodmare Glowing Tribute.

Having already found success with 10-time winner Master Reset (by Reset) and four-time winner La Bella Costa (by Von Costa de Hero), Laurie saddled up their half-brother That Contageous (by Lonhro) at Mornington last Thursday 18 November.

After finishing behind Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Artorius on debut, the strapping son of Lonhro made a winning return to the racetrack after spending almost 10 months off the scene. 

That Contageous, who stands at approximately 17.3hh and required a barrier extension to compete, took up the lead after jumping from barrier 12 and continued to extend to break his maiden by just over a length.

Mornington-based trainer Matt Laurie was thrilled to see the big three-year-old come back well after having a couple of issues earlier in the year.

“He’d always been quiet in the early days and then we took him to Sandown and he just turned into a lunatic. It surprised us all,” Laurie said post-race.

“He needed to be gelded a long time ago and we managed to get it done but unfortunately he also went in the throat so he had to have some surgery.

“He’s a massive horse with obviously a very big action so it was good to see him return well.”

Both of his siblings managed to graduate to competing in the city so it’ll be interesting to see what level this lightly-raced three-year-old can reach. 

His dam Glowing Tribute has had six foals in total with five to race. All of his other four siblings have won at least four races up to 1600m.

First published in the Mornington News – 23 November 2021