Leading German sire Lando was euthanized Aug. 20. The son of Acatenango—Laurea, by Sharpman, had undergone successful surgery following a severe bout of colic, but suffered a spiral fracture in a leg upon rising and had to be put down. He was 23.
Manfred Ostermann and Janet Leve-Ostermann, who bred and owned Lando at Gestut Hof Ittlingen, near Werne, Germany, said in a statement posted on their website: "He was the best horse we have bred on our farm. He was always an outstanding horse with an impeccable physique, a great interior, pride, fighting spirit, and toughness."
In his four-year racing career Lando captured 10 stakes including six group I wins in three countries. In Germany he won the BMW Deutsches Derby (Ger-I), the 124 Grosser Preis von Baden (Ger-I), and the Preis der Privatbankiers Merck, Finck & Co. (Ger-I). His wins in Italy included the Gran Premio del Jockey Club (Ity-I) and the Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-I).
In his final start at 5, Lando scored in the Japan Cup (Jpn-I), the first German horse to win the prestigious race.
Named the German highweight colt at 3 and older horse at 4, he was also awarded highweight older horse honors at 4 and 5 in Italy. Upon his retirement, Lando had achieved a record of 10-3-1 from 24 starts and earned $3,438,727.
Entering stud in 1997, Lando stood at his birthplace, Gestut Hof Ittlingen, before spending a few years in France at Haras d'Etreham. From his 15 crops of racing age, Lando has sired 31 stakes winners, among them seven group/grade I victors.
The chief earner among his progeny is Paolini, the 2002 German Horse of the Year and highweighted older horse in Germany at 5 and 6 in 2002 and 2003. A group I winner in Italy and the United Arab Emirates, he also received highweight honors in those countries in 2001 and 2004, respectively.
Lando also sired group I winners Donaldson, Epalo, Gonbarda (later the dam of Farhh), Intendant, Prince Flori, and Scalo.