Made a 'One To Watch' when breaking his maiden at Echuca on August 26, the Danny O'Brien-trained Linas Legend took the next step with a dominant performance over 1300m at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday.
Given a positive ride by Damian Lane, Linas Legend was given a shake-up from the barriers to take the lead. Given a couple of reminders in the straight, the handsome son of Teofilo (IRE) came clear to defeat the Divine Prophet filly Fortunate Kiss by two lengths with the Shamus award gelding Get On The Gas a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Placings at Caulfield and Flemington last season at two, Linas Legend continued the run on the day for homebreds.
Bred by part-owner Peter Kopke, Linas Legend holds an entry for the Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 9.
A half-brother to the talented 6-time winner Lina's Hero (Elvstroem), Linas Legend is the third winner from as many to race out of the winning Statue Of Liberty (USA) mare Cloanthy.
A two-time winner at Geelong, Cloanthy is a granddaughter of Cazuleigh (Centaine), a sister to Waikato Stud's famed broodmare Escada, dam of Group 1 winners Glamour Puss and Vision and Power, Group II winner Rare Insight, and multiple Listed winner Escadaire.
Cloanthy has a yearling colt by Highland Reel (IRE) and was covered by Teofilo's son Palentino last spring.
