Group 1 winner in the making
Condon's two-year-old is likely to be given the rest of the year off and will come back stronger next season with Group 1 targets in mind
TRAINER Ken Condon is excited to see what Landfall can achieve next season following his impressive display at Leopardstown on Saturday.
An all-the-way winner on his racecourse debut at the Curragh last month, the son of Myboycharlie stepped up to Group Three level on Irish Champions Weekend and comfortably kept his unbeaten record intact, claiming the scalp of Douglas Macarthur in the process.
Landfall holds an entry in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes on September 25, but is likely to be given the rest of the year off.
Condon said: "What he did on Saturday was no surprise to us. 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.
"He travelled through the race like a good horse and I was very taken by how strong he went to the line. In the last 100 yards I thought he looked very good.
"Time will show how far he can go, but his maiden has worked out well and he's a horse we think has a very bright future."
Having been gelded as a yearling, Condon will not be able to target next season's Classics, but he is confident his charge can make his mark at the highest level in due course.
"I've had in my mind not to over-race him this year and the thinking was he'd either run on Saturday or in the Beresford, so I don't think he'll go there now," said the trainer.
"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 three and four-year-old.
"We would have thought about going to France with him for one of the Criterium races, but with him being a gelding, he doesn't qualify.
"With him not being by Frankel or Galileo, he was gelded last Christmas when we didn't know anything about him.
"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.
"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 Secretariat Stakes 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.
"We're in no rush, as it's all ahead of him, but we think he has Group One potential."
