The old saying “Time heals all wounds” is certainly true with promising pacer Jaruzewithlski Leis owned by Smithton (North West Tasmania) Vet Trevor Leis and his wife Marjorie, Jaruzelski Leis was off the scene for two years and four months with chips in his sesamoid bone.
He returned to the racetrack for trainer Todd Rattray on the last day in January an outstanding first up win then last Sunday followed that up with an all the way victory in the Toreace Flying Mile at Elwick (Hobart).
The son of Bettors Delight from the Walton Hanover mare Kazakova Leis gave nothing else achance once he found the top winning by six and half metres from The Majority and Resurgent Spirit, clocking a mile rate of 1.57.8 and he ran his last 800 metres in a slick 56.7..
Jaruzelski Leis dam Kazakova Leis herself won seven races for the Leis but its been in the breeding barn that she has excelled her first foal Yushchenko Leis won 22 races in Tasmania and Sydney and over $160,000 in prize money, another son Rykov Leis has currently won 11 races and just $103.000.
Every colt bred by the Leis family is named after a Russian politician while the fillies derive their unique names from famous female Russian athletes.
Trevor Leis is a former veterinarian who moved to Tasmania from Queensland in the 70’s and now with more than 30 years’ experience breeding and racing standardbred horses. Leis served on Tasracing board from 2009 till November last year, he is also a former chairman of TT-Line Company Pty Ltd and UMT.
Leis first venture into harness racing was to purchase a broodmare known as Valencia Bay who became the Leis foundation mare.
A daughter of Scotty Belmont, Valencia Bay produced 10 foals for Leis between 1977 and 1989.
The best-performed was Solzhenitsyn Leis whowon seven races from only 15 starts before injury forced his premature retirement.
Ultimately, Valencia Bay’s progeny did not set the world on fire on the race track.
But several of her fillies went on to become top class broodmares and served as the launching pad for the Leis breeding dynasty.
Navratilova Leis (by Cignetto Hanover) who produced 11 foals to race.
Her flag bearer was Zhirinovsky Leis (by Classic Garry) who recorded 23 wins and 30 placings from 107 starts for stake earnings of $132,000.
The Leis have been long term clients of Team Rattray over many years.
The time honoured Easter Cup may be Jaruzelski Leis main Tasmanian mission this season and the gelding may very well end up in Rattrays brother James Menangle stable to have a crack at some better class racings providing he stays sound.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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