Olympus qualified to scale the thoroughbred heights

  He is a powerfully bred son of Danehill stallion Olympus and he showed last week that he can live up to this prognosis by having the only runner to date from his first crop, current juveniles, record a dashing win by 3.0 lengths and 3.5 lengths in a 900m event for the age group at Scone in the Hunter Valley.
  Named Sutton Princess, she had been beaten just over half a length when fourth at Taree on debut, but had previously showed exciting potential with a six lengths trial win at Scone. Her name is derived from her breeder and owner Russ Lazarus's Sutton Farm stud along the road bordering the far side of the Scone racecourse.

  Since he was one of the owners the1987 Melbourne Cup winner Kensei, Russ has made a big contribution to racing as a breeder, owner and as an administrator. He was driving force for a number of years on the committee of the NSW Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.

  The Mack Griffifth, Muswellbrook trained Sutton Princess is from Sutton Miss, a winner of six races, including one at Randwick, that he also raced for Russ Lazarus. He also prepared for the same breeder Sutton Miss's accomplished brother Sutton Review, winner of the Listed Gainsborough 3YO Stakes at Tamworth, and also successful Randwick.

  They are both by Danehill's American bred relation Youthful Legs and from Miss Regal Mine, an imported Canadian mare by the Vaguely Noble sire Regal and from a daughter of Mr. Prospector.The latter appears twice at the fourth generation of Sutton Princess, a distinction he shares with Spring Adieu, the second dam of both Youthful Legs and Danehill.

  Olympus is the third sire in which Russ Lazarus has been a prominent owner, being preceded by Youthful Legs and the very popular importation Beautiful Crown.The latter stands at the Patinack Farm stud near Scone by arrangement with his Andrew Bowcock headed syndicate owners, while Youthful Legs is with Olympus at Stepen Miller's Erin Park Stud along the Peel river on the western fringe of Tamworth.

  Erin Park, phones 0414 345 685 or (02) 6760 821, is the biggest breeding operation seen in north western NSW in the last 40 years.They offer the use of Olympus at $3,300 and Youthful Legs at $4,000.

  Purchased at the Sydney Easter yearling sales at a cost of $235,000 by a syndicate including Lazarus, Bowcock and one of the most respected judges of thoroughbred quality, Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners, Olympus showed up as a very good racing prospect but suffered problems that restricted his ability to live up to his obvious ability.

  At two he sparked contemplation of Golden Slipper glory with a commanding all the way win over1100m at Rosehill Gardens, scoring by four lengths, a 1.4 lengths fourth in the Group 3 Skyline Stakes at Canterbury and then a third in the Illawarra 2YO Classic.

  Subsequently a winner by a length of a1600m event at Warwick Farm, Olympus was got by Danehill from Metal of Honour, a daughter of the Mr. Prospector sire Conquistador Cielo (sire of winners of over 2,200 races) and Badge of Courage, a half-sister to Group1 winners and sires Tentam and Known Fact and also to the dam of one of the noted Mr. Prospector sire Gone West.     

Brian Russell Bloodstock Media.