What's a Golden Slipper winner worth to a stallion?
In Medaglia d'Oro's case it meant a near doubling in the
sales price of his yearlings.
The sire of Vancouver had seven yearling sell at Easter 2014
at an average of 231,785. At the recently completed Easter Yearling sale
Medaglia d'Oro had the same amount sell at an average of $425,714, which was
good enough to place him third behind Fastnet Rock and Street Cry (IRE) on
averages,
There was no mega priced lot distorting the averages either.
His top lot made $550,000 so they sold consistently well.
His stocks rose further on the second day of The
Championships at Randwick, when Godolphin's 3yo gelding Federal cleared away in
impressive fashion to open his stakes account in the Listed South Pacific
Classic (1400m).
Ridden by James McDonald for trainer John O'Shea, Federal
always had the leaders in sight in the small field of six.
He lengthened impressively in the straight to defeat Snake
Charmer (Pentire) by one and a quarter lengths with Ygritte (Snitzel) two and a
quarter lengths back in third. (photos Lisa Grimm)
It advances the overall record of Federal to 3 wins, 2 seconds
and 1 third from 8 starts for earnings of $183,475.
"Lovely colt and a great ride by Mac," O'Shea said.
"He got on the back of the favourite and just had to let
down, which he did.
"He's a fit horse third-up, by this gun sire we've got
Medaglia d'Oro, I only wish we had more of them.
"We'll get him home now; maybe Hawkesbury next to give him
one more and that'll do him."
Bred by Darley, Federal is the fourth foal and first
stakes-winner out of the Sydney winning Danehill mare Virago.
A half-sister to AJC
Breeders' Classic winner Steflara (Zabeel), Virago is out of the dual Group III
winner Blue Storm (Bluebird) herself a daughter of Group 1 AJC Doncaster
Handicap and Group 1 All-Aged Stakes winner My Gold Hope (John's Hope) who also
won the Railway Handicap in her native New Zealand.
Virago has a 2yo Street Cry filly named Xanthippe who
finished second at her career debut just minutes before his half-brother
captured the South Pacific Classic.
After slipping to New Approach (IRE) in 2012, Virago foaled
a Street Cry (IRE) colt last year and was covered by Carlton House (IRE).
Medaglia D'Oro (USA) came close to making it a
stakes double in the first two races at Randwick. His two-year-old daughter
Chachapoyas finishing second in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) won by The
Barrister (Star Witness.
Federal becomes the 68th stakes-winner for
Medaglia d'Oro (USA) and the third from his first Australian conceived crop,
while champion 2yo elect Vancouver is the star of his second crop.
