A determined and courageous performance has earned Crown Prosecutor victory in Saturday’s G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie and given his sire Medaglia d'Oro another classic success.
Given the run of the race by Craig Grylls, Crown Prosecutor made his winning bid at the 200m and survived the challenge of runner-up In A Twinkling to win by a head.
The victory gave Medaglia d’Oro his 22nd G1 winner and was also a triumph for the global possibilities Darley provides with the colt’s damsire being the noted Australian-bred producer of sprinters, Exceed And Excel.
Crown Prosecutor, who was bred by Hesket Bloodstock, is from Riptide whose four-year-old Mulk is by Sepoy. The mare’s three foals since delivering Crown Prosecutor are by the Darley stallions Lonhro, Street Boss and Frosted.
The win also continued the good recent record of Darley stallions in New Zealand’s premier classic with the 2017 winner Gingernuts being by Iffraaj.
For trainer Stephen Marsh, the win rewarded his faith and patience.
“We had him hard fit ready and I said to Craig to go forward as he can out-tough them,” he said.
“Nothing had gone right for us last start and he was a stakes winner.
“Craig rode him perfectly as they went hard and he sat in behind them, so it was a great win.”
Stateside, Medaglia d'Oro was represented by another new Stakes winner on the weekend as the three-year-old filly Cambier Parc proved much the best when winning the G3 Herecomesthebride Stakes.
Medaglia d’Oro is standing the 2019 breeding season at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for $200,000, stands and nurses.
