The Topside
BACKGROUND STORY
John Plant made the decision to breed his mare, Maryann, to Conman, a stallion whose progeny had been performing at an impressive and consistent level. Having previously bred to Conman in the early years of his breeding career, John had observed firsthand the reliability in both performance and type that his offspring displayed. Pairing Maryann with Conman was an exciting prospect, as she was a remarkable universal mare, well-suited for the entire family. Light, consistent and smooth travelling, Maryann was not only an exceptional cutout horse but also the ideal mare for drafting.
At two years old, her colt, Condet, was broken in by Cameron Bond at Dulacca, a trusted horse breaker known for producing solid, well-rounded horses without excessive training. After breaking in, Condet was spelled before being put to work mustering for a few years to develop his foundation further. His first competitive start came at the 2016 Condamine Encouragement Campdraft, where he made the maiden final and placed second. He continued to show promise, tying for sixth at Wandoan and placing fifth at Kumbia before being spelled once again. Returning to competition in 2017, Condet quickly proved himself a natural at rating cattle, showcasing his strong cutout ability developed through stock work and home training.
In just his fourth start, Condet secured his first win in the Condamine Encouragement Maiden draft in 2017. His success continued, and in 2021, he claimed his first major title by winning the prestigious Chinchilla Grandfather Clock with Robert Plant. The following year, he tied for fourth place in the Open at Condamine and only a week later securing a win in the Chinchilla Grandmother Clock with Kristina Plant.
Condet’s progeny have carried on his legacy, consistently displaying a natural ability for rating and chasing cattle. Regardless of the mare line crossed with him, his offspring have shown great traveling ability and adaptability, succeeding in the hands of various riders and continuing his reputation for quality in performance.
