Leclerc lost his maiden tag last Wednesday when landing Division 2 of the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Handicap under stable apprentice Adam Caffrey.
The Showcasing gelding was held up in mid-division early on before Adam asked him for an effort entering into the straight where he responded immediately to take the lead a furlong and a half out and then stayed on strongly to win by three quarters of a length from the John McConnell trained Bellick.
Speaking afterwards, Ado said, “He was entitled to do that but I was a bit worried going back to seven. Early on in the year, he showed me a lot of pace and we ran him a couple of times and he was a bit disappointing.
He’s a huge, big horse and had a lot of problems, I think, before I got him but he’s grand. He should be able to collect again up here for the winter and will get further.
He definitely worked a lot higher than the rating he received when he started and then he let us down.
Adam was very cool on him, he’s a good kid to ride”.