Legend Of Condor
Article by Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria: Lauriston’s ‘Legend’ Leads the Charge
The graduates of Corinella’s Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm have been regular visitors to the winner’s stalls of late with some very talented youngsters among the victors.
Leading the charge on Saturday was the Gerald Ryan trained two-year-old Legend of Condor, a very talented two-year-old who scored on debut in the Victory Vein Plate over 1000 metres in Sydney.
Sold for $520,000 as a yearling at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale through the Lauriston draft, Legend Of Condor was bought by Sun Bloodstock.
Lauriston’s James O’Brien, pointed out that the young colt is by Not A Single Doubt and is out of the Success Express mare, Rhodamine, which means he carries the same cross as Sun Stud’s Victorian Champion First Season Sire, Squamosa.
“We still have Rhodamine in our broodmare band, and I adore the Success Express mares. Legend Of Condor is not overly tall, but he is a neat, very powerful and an exceptionally strong colt,” O’Brien said.
“He was a real professional throughout his yearling preparation and incredibly popular at the sales with the buying bench. He handled the busy complex with ease; he was such a cool dude.”
The purchaser, David O’Callaghan acting on behalf of Sun Stud, is well known as an astute judge, and was keeping a keen eye on him during the inspections.
“(O’Callagahan) couldn’t help but be impressed by the colt’s attitude and demeanour. To get the price tag he did showed how many other good judges were also interested in the ring. I was over the moon with the price we achieved,” O’Brien said.
So it came as no surprise to O’Brien to hear trainer Gerald Ryan comment on how well Legend Of Condor has handled his whole racing career to date and how professional he was during his breaking in and early days at the stables.
After winning his trial in impressive time, Legend Of Condor clocked a great time at Randwick and beat the other 1000 metre race on the day.
With an extraordinary, unflappable personality, bigger and better things are ahead of him with Ryan believing that he is a horse that can make the 2018 Golden Slipper.
There have been some other impressive Lauriston bred 3YO winners in Victoria and elsewhere in the past fortnight.
The Toby Edmonds trained Eptimum (Snitzel), was brought down as a travelling companion and trackwork-mate for the super filly Houtzen. And in his time down in Victoria, he has now raced twice for two super impressive victories at Ballarat and Bendigo.
“With a three-year-old stakes option on Cox Plate day, it would be brilliant for his dam, Paramount if he gets a run, who is a full to Stradbroke winner, La Montagna,” said O’Brien.
Meanwhile the Spcier Thoroughbreds owned grey 3YO Platinum Angel, an $180,000 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling purchase, is also in for a bright future, after impressively broke her maiden recently at Mornington, for Darren Weir.
Platinum Angel
Photo: Leonie Grbic-Racing Photos
And not to be forgotten, the three year-old Iron Lotus won first up at Alice Springs, after being touted as one of the best two-year-olds in NT last season after winning the feature Inglis Red Centre 2YO Classic.
“Over the last decade, I have only taken nine yearlings to the Magic Millions. The year before last we took five, who include the Listed placed Kardashing, Platinum Angel, Eptimum and Undoubtable Miss who won the Adelaide Magic Millions race, with the fifth unraced and now trialing well in Hong Kong,” O’Brien said.
“From the previous draft of four yearlings, we had dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour and Seductress, a two year old city winner at Caulfield. It’s been great as everything we took to sell has been winning for their new owners.”
