Lando, German Group 1 winner and sire, dead at age 23

Lando, a German-based global standout as a runner and sire, was euthanized August 20 after suffering a spiral fracture in a leg while in recovery from a successful colic surgery.

The 23-year-old son of Acatenango was a seven-time Group 1 winner during his racing career, winning four in Germany, two in Italy, and the 1995 Japan Cup in his career finale. He retired with 10 wins in 24 starts for earnings of $3,438,727.

Lando was homebred in Germany by Manfred Ostermann and Janet Leve-Ostermann’s Gestut Hof Ittlingen, and was trained during his racing career by Heinz Jentzch.

"He was the best horse we have bred on our farm,” the farm’s owners said in a joint statement to Racing Post. “He was always an outstanding horse with an impeccable physique, a great interior, pride, fighting spirit and toughness."

Lando was retired to stud at Gestut Hof Ittlingen, and stood there for the bulk of his career, with the exception of a six-year stint at French breeding operation Haras d’Etreham. He stood in 2013 for an advertised fee of $12,692 (9,500 Euros).

At stud, Lando has sired 276 winners from 15 crops of racing age, including 15 graded or group stakes winners. His greatest runner was 2002 German Horse of the Year Paolini, who won or placed in Grade or Group 1 stakes in Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, the U.A.E., Canada and the U.S.