Linton Fires First Up

Talented stayer Linton (5g Galileo x Our Heather, by Centaine) made a successful debut for his new trainer John Sadler at Morphettville on Saturday when taking out the Group III SAJC Robert Lee Stakes. Formerly a member of the Lloyd Williams team, Linton was on-sold earlier this year and looked in top form when charging home to win the 1600 metre feature by three-quarters of a length. Originally a $275,000 purchase by Rogerson Bloodstock on behalf of Lloyd Williams from the Lyndhurst Farm draft at the 2008 NZB Ready to Run Sale, Linton has won four races and placed six times from 17 starts earning $880,300 in prizemoney, his previous best win coming in the 2010 Group II MRC Herbert Power Stakes. Linton is the first stakes-winner for his dam Our Heather, a minor winner by Centaine, who comes from a well known stakes family featuring Group I winner Sharvasti and horses such as Balmacara, Vedodara, Bhandara, Shastri and Jamieson Valley. He is from the second last crop of Australian bred foals by champion European sire Galileo, who is now based permanently at Coolmore in Ireland.