LINA'S LEGEND STORMS INTO GUINEAS CALCULATIONS

Caulfield Guineas nominee Linas Legend defeated another six last-start winners at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday and as a result his odds for next month's $2 million race were slashed to $21 by Sportsbet.

Ridden by Damian Lane for Danny O'Brien, Linas Legend ($2.05 favourite) led throughout in the $50,000 Tile Importer Handicap (1300m), held under Benchmark 64 conditions for three-year-olds.

Linas Legend ran his first 700 metres in 43.6 seconds, before clocking his final 600m in 33.69s, which included a 21.7-second split from the 600 to 200-metre marks, in winning by two lengths.

"I was watching the sectionals go by and he rolled along and then it seemed like he controlled the race and quickened away pretty impressively," said O'Brien's assistant trainer Ben Gleeson.

"He's done it at both ends and he certain stamped himself as a quality colt."

Gleeson refused to be drawn on Linas Legend's immediate future in the aftermath of his second victory this campaign, which came after winning his 1300-metre Echuca maiden on August 26, but Lane indicated a possible distance preference for the Teofilo colt.

"He has made good progress from his first-up win (at Echuca) and I think he'll progress again after this," Lane said.

"The mile (1600 metres) will be no issue, I'm not sure beyond that at this stage and I'm probably still learning about him as well."

Linas Legend was bred by managing owner Peter Kopke. His dam Cloanthy also produced Lina's Hero, who won his first two starts for Tony Vasil and was then sold to Hong Kong before returning to Australia and now being trained by Chris Waller.

Teofilo has sired two Melbourne Cup winners, Cross Counter and Twilight Payment, and other Australian Group 1 winners Happy Clapper, Palantino, Humidor and Kermadec.

Artorius is $5 favourite with Sportsbet for the Caulfield Guineas, with Anamoe ($6) and Converge ($7) next in betting.

Story by Carl Di Iorio for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos