WHEN you buy a horse at the sales, the hope and aim, realistic or not, is for a return on investment. At the very least you’re looking for your new acquisition to pay their way.

When Ken Condon’s Lady Marengo won the latest race in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Series at Navan last Saturday, she paid for herself five times over. And now, given that she is a winner on just her third ever start – and with that bit of value locked in – there is lots to look forward to.

Purchased by Condon for owner David Kelly this time last year at the Tattersalls Yearling Sale, the daughter of Battle Of Marengo cost just €3,000 and last Saturday scooped just short of €15,000.

Each of the three races, Lady Marengo has contested have been races in the Foran Equine series.

“It’s not just the prize money, which is obviously very good,” Condon explains.

“It’s the weight a filly like Lady Marengo gets to carry. She was a relatively cheap purchase at €3,000 and the weights for races in the series are scaled on the sales prices for each horse.”

As Lady Marengo was purchased for below €10,000, she received a 10lb allowance on top of her 5lb fillies’ allowance. Even so, she was sent off at 16/1 taking on the likes of Chestnut Express and Compton’s Finale, who had both shown a lot or promise in their previous maidens.

ADMIRABLE TOUGHNESS

However the daughter of first-season sire Battle Of Marengo nipped through on the far side for Wayne Lordan and showed admirable toughness to hold off the aforementioned pair. Her trainer wasn’t at all surprised by her improvement.

“She just didn’t act on the surface at Dundalk so we were happy to put a line through that,” Condon said.

“Before that she ran a very promising race at Tipperary on her debut. Any two-year-old that runs well in a Tipperary maiden can go well anywhere in Ireland so we knew the talent was there.

“We’ll be looking at a nursery for her next and then obviously the series final at Naas will come into the reckoning. There is fantastic prize money up for grabs.”

It’s been a great year for Ken Condon. A breakthrough year. Romanised gave him a first classic success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, while the likes of Ice Cold In Alex, who has won twice, and Rajar have represented him well. Lady Marengo was his second winner in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Series this season as Usra won at Tipperary in June.

Both stable stars Romanised and Success Days won’t be appearing at Irish Champions Weekend but could run on Champions Day at Ascot, with the former set to stay in training next year. There is lots to look forward to.