Big Future for Largo Lad
1st December 2007
Lightly raced Largo Lad (3g Encosta de Lago - Lady Marion, by Danehill) confirmed his potential with an eye-catching win at Moonee Valley on Saturday, charging home from last to score a resounding win in the restricted three year-old event over 1600 metres.
A tall gangly fellow of some 17 hands with a giant stride on him, Largo Lad found himself shuffled back to last on the turn but ridden patiently by Brad Rawiller, he circled the field at the top of the straight and motored to the line to win by the best part of a length.
"He was over-racing a fraction and at the 600, when they were still going slow, there was no way he could win from where he was," Rawiller said.
"I just had to come back a little bit to get him out and rolling and in 20 metres he was never going to be beaten. It was an exciting effort.”
Second on debut at Wangaratta on October 28 and then a runaway winner at Bendigo on November 14, Largo Lad looks a likely prospect for the autumn with trainer John Ledger yet to make concrete plans.
"I'm not sure if we will go after the Guineas," Ledger said.
"You have got all those super stars waiting in the wings and we have to work out whether to try him there or take the softer approach in the autumn."
A $75,000 purchase for De Burgh Farrington from the Willow Park Stud draft at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Largo Lad (pictured as a yearling) is raced by the Racovolis family.
A half-brother to smart Adelaide galloper Woodland Jack, Largo Lad is the second foal of former very good Danehill racemare Lady Marion.
A Group Two winner of eight races and over $400,000 in prizemoney, Lady Marion was offered at the 2007 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale with an Encosta de Lago filly at foot and was snapped up by Coolmore for $840,000.
It was a three in one deal as she was also in foal to Zabeel and has since delivered a bay colt at Coolmore by the sire of Melbourne Cup winner Efficient.
Largo Lad was the first leg of a winning double for Encosta de Lago at Moonee Valley, the leading sire also figuring with Laura's Charm (6m Encosta de Lago - Laura's Express, by Prego), whose win in the open mares event over 1600 metres boosted her prizemoney tally in excess of $500,000.
