The victory by the three-year-old colt Talismanic on the turf at Saint-Cloud displays yet again that progeny of Medaglia d’Oro succeed on any surface and at any distance. His victory on May 23rd in the Prix de l'Avre makes him his sire's 87th career worldwide Stakes winner.
In the Prix de l’Avre, the Godolphin color bearer was very relaxed throughout the 12-furlong event and was never far off the leaders. The short field of five hit the straight together but Talismanic had enough in reserve and was two lengths the best at the finish.
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.
Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of 86 additional stakes winners, including 2016 G1 winner Songbird, last year’s Eclipse Award winner, and Mshawish, now a G1 winner on both dirt and turf. No sire in North America has more G1 winners this year. Medaglia d’Oro’s lifetime number of Group or Graded winners totals 44, a number that also includes Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and 2016 G1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver.
