There’s nothing in Leroidesanimaux’ pedigree that would lead to his being rather presumptuously named “King of the animals,” but Goncala Torrealba apparently knew what he was doing.

Bred by Haras Bage Do Sul, “Leroi” (“the king”) is out of the Ahonoora (GB) mare Dissemble (GB) and sired by Candy Stripes, who was standing at Taylor Made in Kentucky at the time and shuttling to Brazil, where Torrealba’s racing and breeding operation was based at the time.

“Leroi’s breeder was a friend of mine,” said Torrealba, “and when he died, his sons dispersed his farm. I think he had three Candy Stripes weanlings, and I bought all of them, bringing them to my farm to raise them.”

The chestnut colt began his career in Brazil, making three starts as a 3-year-old, breaking his maiden and then finishing second in the Group 1 Grande Premio Associacao Brasileira de Criadores e Proprietarios do Cavalo de Corrida. That winter, he shipped to the United States to take up residence in Bobby Frankel’s California barn.

“My program had always been to breed and raise horses in Brazil and bring the good ones to America,” said Torrealba. “We thought he was the real deal, and I thought that Bobby was the best trainer in America. I believe in employing the best. It was an easy choice.”

Continue reading at Woodbine.ca