Written by Jessica Owers
There were few better-named winners at Mornington on Thursday than That Contageous, the Lonhro gelding with the COVID-themed name from the yard of local trainer Matt Laurie.
The 3-year-old was having just his second start in a race since running unplaced to Artorius (Flying Artie) at Sandown last January and, after an absence of 43 weeks, the win was full of merit.
Ridden tactically by Luke Currie from a very wide draw, That Contageous crossed over to snatch an early lead in the 1200 metre McLeod Trees Plate, and he stayed there for the duration of the race, with a bunch behind led by Manhattan Man (Manhattan Rain) and Avid Acheeva (Anacheeva).
Into the straight, with most of the field off the bit, That Contageous was still cruising, and the gelding opened up a sizeable gap before anyone got close enough to contend.
The final margins were 1.25l to second-placed Citizen (Street Boss {USA}) in the China Horse Club colours, and 1.75l to Kikuyu (Crowded House {GB}) in third. The time was 1:11.23 on the Good 4.
Size matters
Trainer Matt Laurie was on-hand at Mornington, and he said That Contageous had trialled up very well leading into his first race after such a long lay-off.
Matt Laurie
“He drew an outside gate, but I thought he’d be able to slide across comfortably enough,” Laurie said. “He’s a massive horse with obviously a very big action, so it was good to see.”
That Contageous is dark like his sire Lonhro but, at 17.3hh high, he towered over much of Thursday’s field. The gelding required a barrier extension just to start the race.
“He’s around 17.3hh, but I’d have to check again,” the trainer said. “He’s not easy to vault on, that’s for sure.”
“He’s (That Contageous) around 17.3hh, but I’d have to check again. He’s not easy to vault on, that’s for sure.” - Matt Laurie
At that height, That Contageous would be one of the biggest horses in Australian racing, out-sizing even Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}) at 17.1hh high, while Bernborough (Emborough {GB}) was around the 17hh mark.
But even these pale compared to the colossus Holy Roller (Trade Fair {GB}) who, in the Ingham colours, was a mighty 18.1hh high in the 1990s racing scene.
A Glowing family
Laurie has handled his big horse carefully, and it seems That Contageous hasn’t come without his headaches.
“He’d always been quiet in the early days, and then we took him to Sandown and he just turned into a lunatic,” the trainer said. “It surprised us all. 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. We knew he had a bit of ability so we were happy to go through with it.”
“He’d (That Contageous) always been quiet in the early days, and then we took him to Sandown and he just turned into a lunatic. He needed to be gelded a long time ago..." - Matt Laurie
All of this explains the horse’s long absence between runs, but none of it bothered Laurie, who has had a long association with this family.
“It’s been a really good family for me,” he said. “Master Reset is the half-brother, and he won 10. La Bella Costa (a half-sister), she’s won five and was another one we won at Flemington with. She’s been a really good mother, this mare.”
The mare is Glowing Tribute (Zeditave), who is 19 years old these days and owned by Albury breeder Wayne Matsinos. She’s had six foals, none of which have been put through the sales, and she’s provided plenty of joy for the Matsinos family.
That Contageous
Glowing Tribute’s dam by Sir Tristram (Ire) is a half-sister to the 1998/99 Champion Older Male Miler in New Zealand, Aerosmith (NZ) (Indian Ore {USA}). This is also the extended family of G1 Golden Slipper winner Belle Du Jour (Dehere {USA}) and the G1 The Goodwood H. winner (and late sire) Perfectly Ready.
Glowing Tribute hasn’t produced a foal since her imposing son That Contageous, but she is due to foal to the Riverbank Stud stallion Boulder City this spring.
