Curragh trainer Ken Condon is planning to play the long game with his exciting juvenile Landfall (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), who made it two-for-two at Leopardstown on Saturday. Though a surprise to many, the gelding's 2 1/4-length victory over Firey Speech (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G3 Willis Towers Watson Champion Juvenile S. was far from unexpected by his trainer who plans to give Landfall the rest of the season off.
“What he did on Saturday was no surprise to us,” said Condon. “He's a horse that had been showing up well before his debut at The Curragh and we felt he'd improved again in the three weeks since, as the good ones tend to do. Nothing is set in stone, but we'll probably put him away for next year. I think he's a horse who is going to improve as a 3 and 4-year-old.”
Landfall, a €42,000 Arqana yearling purchase was gelded late last year, so he is not qualified to run in next season's Classics.
“He obviously can't run in the Classics next year, but we could start him off in one of the Classic trials and see how we go,” said Condon regarding a possible 2017 plan. “Things will open up a bit for him from mid-season and he's a horse you wouldn't be afraid to travel overseas with. Something like the [GI] Secretariat S. could be an option, but that's a long way off. He should get a mile and a quarter no problem and given how relaxed he is and how easily he does everything, he might even get a mile and a half.”
Despite his Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) finding the competition a bit hot in the G1 Irish Champion S., Condon is enjoying a good season and it looks like in Landfall, he has a horse of even more potential than Robert Ng's multiple stakes winner.
“We're in no rush with Landfall, as it's all ahead of him, but we think he has Group 1 potential,” concluded Condon.
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