High demand for Medaglia d’Oro yearlings

He’s represented by 20 Stakes winners so far in 2015, including two G1 winners with Mshawish and Songbird. He’s also the broodmare sire of two 2015 G1 winners in Rachel’s Valentina and Rock Fall. So it’s not a big surprise that yearlings sired by Medaglia d'Oro would be in high demand, with seven offerings averaging over $440,000 on day one of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale.

John Ferguson, bloodstock advisor to Sheikh Mohammed, found a few good reasons to appreciate hip number 49, and ended up going to $875,000 to secure the beautiful bay colt. Sold by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, the yearling is out of G2 winner Afleeting Lady, a half-sister to four Stakes winners, including G1 winners Shackleford and Lady Joanne.

The first progeny of Medaglia d’Oro through the ring was hip 23 consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Out of a full sister to G1 winner Any Given Saturday, the bay filly received a final bid with Tom Ryan, agent, signing the ticket.

A pair of consecutive numbered yearlings by Medaglia d’Oro, hips 200 and 201, brought $400,000 each. The first, from the Four Star Sales consignment, was purchased by Rio Dois Irmaos, LLC. The dark bay or brown filly is out of a Dance Quietly, a full sister to G2-placed American Dance and a half-sister to Horse of the Year Saint Liam, G2 winner Quiet Giant and G3 winner Congresssionalhonor. Hip 201 is out of the producing Seeking the Gold mare, Dancing Flame, a half-sister to G2 winner Bear’s Kid. Her second dam is G1 winner and million-dollar earner Tap To Music. Also a filly, Arthur A. Watson, Jr., purchased the filly out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment who was acting as agent for Siena Farm, LLC.

The last horse through the ring on day one, also by Medaglia d’Oro, went to Bach Stables, LLC, for $425,000. Hip number 241 hailed from the Lane’s End consignment and is out of two-time G1 winner Dream Supreme, dam of G1 winner Majestic Warrior and Stakes winners Evolutionist and Crystal Current.

Bernardini, too, continued to attract the attention of buyers with yearlings bringing such prices as $450,000 and $400,000.

The sire of the aforementioned G1 winner Rachel’s Valentina, Bernardini’s first yearling through the ring was knocked down for a price of $450,000 with Micheal Hernon signing the ticket on behalf of Gainesway Farm. From the consignment of Valkyre Stud, agent, for the estate of William Currin, the filly is a full sister to G3 winner Gala Award and a half to G1 winner Stormello and G2 winner My Best Brother.

Gainesway Farm was on the selling end of another high-priced Bernardini when hip 48 was sold to The China Horse Club for $400,000. The colt is the third registered foal out of G1 winner Acoma, herself a half-sister to Horse of the Year Festival of Light and G1 winner Arch.

Another Darley sire that made his presence known with a couple of six-figure horses was G1 winner Hard Spun. Tops among these was hip number 20, consigned by Taylor Made Farm, which brought a final bid of $475,000. Purchased by Steve Castagnola on behalf of the Albaugh Family, the gray or roan colt is out of G2 winner/G1-placed Warbling, a full sister to Stakes winner Arianna’s Passion (dam of Stakes winner/multiple G2-placed Distorted Passion).

Make sure to follow sales results for Darley sires in tomorrow’s second session.