While he may have turned 24 this year, there is no lessening of the impact of top US stallion Medaglia D’Oro.
The son of El Prado continues to make his presence felt as a sire, sire of sires and broodmare sire.
Medaglia D’Oro’s once beaten son Violence looks set to make his mark on the US Triple Crown races this year, with Violence’s champion son Forte running out a convincing winner of last Saturday’s Gr1 Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n Dale Farms at Xalapa at Gulfstream Park. Last year’s US champion two-year-old colt made it six wins from seven starts when defying a wide draw to score a one length win.
Winner of the Gr1 Hopeful Stakes, Gr1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and Gr1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at two, Forte had captured the Gr2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes while making his three-year-old debut and now ranks favourite for this year’s Gr1 Kentucky Derby.
Another son of Violence, Raise Cain, stamped his own potential Derby claims when he landed the recent Gr3 Gotham Stakes by seven and a half lengths.
Violence, sire of 42 stakes winners thus far and six Gr1 winners, is having a fine season this year, with the Gr1CashCall Futurity winner also sire of 2023 Gr2 San Pasqual Stakes winner Newgrange.
However, Violence is by no means the only son of his sire to make a name for himself at stud in recent times.
Medaglia D’Oro’s dual Gr1 winning son Bolt D’Oro was Leading First-Crop Sire, by earnings, in North America last year, while the sire’s Gr1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winning son Astern is responsible for this season’s Gr1 Neds Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile and fellow smart Australian three-year-old Aft Cabin.
Medaglia D’oro (photo: Darley)
Medaglia D’Oro has a number of promising three-year-olds this year. His three-year-old son Ultimate Gamble was named a TDN Rising Star following an impressive maiden win at Santa Anita last Saturday.
Another promising sophomore by the veteran sire is Botanical, who rates a leading contender for the 2023 Gr1 Kentucky Oaks following her facile win in the Listed Bourbonette Oaks.
Should she win the Kentucky Oaks, Botanical will become the third daughter of Medaglia D’Oro to do so, following Rachel Alexandra and Plum Pretty.
Medaglia D’Oro is also sire of Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty who won both the Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and Gr1 Stewards Cup this year.
Broodmare sire of last Saturday’s Sand Springs Stakes winner Marketsegmentation (American Pharoah), Medaglia D’Oro has also firmly established himself as a high-class broodmare sire.
His daughters have already produced more than 70 stakes winners. including Gr1 winners Santin, Rock Fall, Competitionofideas, Olympiad and Rachel’s Valentina. The latter was produced by Medaglia D’Oro’s champion daughter Rachel Alexandra, winner of the classic Gr1 Preakness Stakes in 2009.
Medaglia D’Oro has also made his mark in South Africa through several broodmare daughters. His multiple stakes winning daughter Mina Salaam is dam of Gr3 Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur Handicap/Gr3 Gauteng Tourism Authority Magnolia Handicap heroine True To Life (Duke Of Marmalade) as well as recent maiden winner Hazlo Grande (Erupt).
Another daughter of the stallion, Society Pages, is the dam of Listed Secretariat Stakes winner Bon Vivant (William Longsword).
Both Mina Salaam and Society Pages have yearlings on offer at this month’s National Yearling Sale, with Mina Salaam represented by an Erupt filly and Society Pages has a William Longsword colt.
