Last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Talismanic returned to the races off a four-month layoff with a stylish victory in the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville on August 15.
The five-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro was making his first appearance since a disappointing effort in the G1 Dubai World Cup in March, but he seems to have put that experience behind him and couldn’t have been more impressive in his return to the races Wednesday. Talismanic sat in mid-pack throughout the 10-furlong event before moving to the lead and taking control a couple of furlongs from home. He quickly opened up a three-length lead in the stretch before being geared down by jockey Mickael Barzalona to win by two lengths under wraps.
Talismanic was bred in Great Britain by Darley and is the fifth winner from as many runners out of the mare Magic Mission. Winner of the G3 Royal Heroine Stakes, Magic Mission was also Graded-placed six other times in America and France, including a third in the G1 Matriarch Stakes.
Talismanic is the fifth Graded Stakes winner for Medaglia d’Oro in 2018, following Elate (G2 Delaware Handicap), Bolt d’Oro (G2 San Felipe), Enticed (G3 Gotham Stakes), and Gyllen (G2 Prix Eugene Adam). Medaglia d’Oro is also the sire of Kentucky Oaks runner-up and Queen’s Plate winner Wonder Gadot, who goes next in the G1 Travers, and recent TDN Rising Star Brill who is pointing for the G1 Del Mar Debutante. He is also have having a huge year in the sales ring, with three seven-figure two-year-olds this spring and three seven-figure yearlings at the recent Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, including the top colt and the top filly.
