Passion For Gold, a G1-winning two-year-old for Medaglia d'Oro in 2009, returned to the winner’s circle at Goodwood on Saturday when landing the Listed Tapster Stakes over a mile and a half. His next run is likely to be in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Bred in the U.S. by Mr. and Mrs. M. Roy Jackson, Passion For Gold is out of C’est L’Amour (Thunder Gulch) and won on debut at Thirsk in August 2009 having been bought by Sheikh Mohammed to race for Godolphin. He then finished third to St Nicholas Abbey in the G2 Beresford Stakes before recording a facile victory in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
Absent from the track at three, Passion For Gold returned at Lingfield last month to take third behind Jet Away (by Darley sire Cape Cross) before reversing the form with that same opponent, who finished runner-up to him in the Tapster.
Medaglia d’Oro, sire of Kentucky Oaks winners Rachel Alexandra and Plum Pretty, plus fellow G1 winners Gabby’s Golden Gal, Warrior’s Reward and Champagne d’Oro, stands at Darley America at a fee of $100,000, Stands and Nurses.
