Son of Primus ‘Laughing’ all the way to Group 1 win

It was yet more Victorian bred Group 1 success on the weekend with the win of Laughing Gravy in thefeature Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Kranji, Singapore.

Bred by the Heffernan family in Victoria, Laughing Gravy is by Primus, a stakes winning son of Flying Spur

Prepared by former Victorian based trainer Cliff Brown, Laughing Gravy settled in third place through the first half of the race before being set alight by jockey Glenn Boss around the home turn. He maintained a comfortable lead for the remainder of the straight eventually wining by two and a half lengths.

With the QEII Cup purse boosted from $350,000 to $500,000 this year, the win took Laughing Gravy's earnings to more than $540,000.

"I thought he needed to improve, but Glenn had a different opinion and he convinced me," said Brown.

"I was actually happy all week with the way he has trained and was going into the race. Just getting him to the 2000m was the key with him.

"He smashed them at his last run and was up in grade this time, but I think people ignore the obvious," Boss said.

"Cliff had him going and had presented him very well for the race. He gave me a lot of confidence when I rode him in a barrier trial on Tuesday."

Laughing Gravy, previously known as Frenzy Fox, had two starts in Victoria for Garfield based trainer Dean Grass before being sold to Cliff Brown. Grass bought the young horse from Carole Heffernan.

"He was a real tough horse to deal with. But once her turned the corner, he became a really nice horse.

"He probably should have won his debut race (at Seymour as a three year-old) and then won his maiden at Murtoa by seven lengths."

About a month later he was off to Singapore on the perhaps unexpected trail of Group 1 glory.

Laughing Gravy's sire Primus retired from racing and stood at Chatswood Stud for five seasons before moving to Queensland. He returned to Victoria last year where he stood at Euroa's Stonehurst Farm.

Primus is part-owned by Justin Lovatt who also owns the sire's previously best performing racehorse, the Darren Weir trained Group 3 winning Burning Front.

"He's by champion stallion Flying Spur from the Group 1 family of Denise's Joy and has plenty to offer owner-breeders."

"He's a thorough gentleman and he has been since day dot. He's been like that since he started as a stallion.

"Several trainers including Darren Weir and Russell Cameron have very promising Primus progeny in their stables with many more to come."

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