Medaglia d'Oro tops when it comes to sale-toppers
Since January 2017, North America’s four major auction houses have hosted 32 individual sales, and Medaglia d’Oro has sired the most expensive offering at five of them, more than any other stallion.
Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds’s $310,000 purchase of the stakes-placed mare Girl Talk at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale was the latest in a high-end run at auction for Medaglia d’Oro.
Medaglia d’Oro’s five sale-toppers since the beginning of 2017 put him ahead of second-place Curlin (Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms) with three, and the young trio of Animal Kingdom, Cairo Prince, and Violence, who each had two.
| Sire | Sale-toppers |
|---|---|
| Medaglia d'Oro | 5 |
| Curlin | 3 |
| Cairo Prince | 2 |
| Animal Kingdom | 2 |
| Violence | 2 |
Auctions taken under consideration for the tally were ones hosted by Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co., and Barretts, and of any catalog type.
Medaglia d’Oro, a 19-year-old son of El Prado who stands at Darley’s Jonabell Farm, quickly established his credentials at stud through the exploits of Rachel Alexandra, a member of his first crop who became a classic winner, Horse of the Year, and Hall of Famer. His debut crop produced 17 stakes winners, also including Grade 1 winners C.S. Silk, Gabby’s Golden Gal, and Warrior’s Reward, ensuring commercial interest would be strong for the sire and his foals in future seasons.
Another champion by the sire, Songbird, was North America’s most expensive auction graduate of 2017, going to Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm for $9.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall select mixed sale.
Medaglia d’Oro kicked off the 2017 yearling season with a $1 million filly selling to Larry Best’s OXO Equine at the Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale, the auction’s most expensive offering since 2006. The stallion bookended the season with the $700,000 colt Broadway d’Oro, who went to trainer Mark Casse as agent to become that sale’s highest-priced horse since 2013.
Kentucky breeders have continued to show Medaglia d’Oro reverence during this winter’s mixed sale season. In addition to Girl Talk’s sale-topping price, the Grade 2-winning broodmare prospect Mrs. McDougal led this year’s Keeneland January horses of all ages sale when she sold to bloodstock agent Steven Young for $1.6 million.
Medaglia d’Oro stands at Darley’s Jonababell Farm base in Lexington, Ky., for an advertised fee of $250,000.
| Sale | Sire | Horse | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keeneland January Mixed 17 | Unbridled's Song | Siren Serenade | $1,025,000 |
| Barretts January Mixed 17 | Giant's Causeway | Cautious Giant | $57,000 |
| OBS Winter Mixed 17 | Shanghai Bobby | Yearling Filly | $110,000 |
| F-T Midlantic Winter Mixed (Jan) 17 | Dialed In | Yearling Colt | $70,000 |
| F-T KY Winter Mixed 17 | Candy Ride | Cinnamon Spice | $700,000 |
| F-T Gulfstream 2yo 17 | Uncle Mo | Beyond Grace | $1,500,000 |
| OBS March 2yo 17 | Congrats | Diamondsandpearls | $1,700,000 |
| Barretts March 2yo 17 | Malibu Moon | Flying the Flag | $675,000 |
| OBS Spring 2yo 17 | Tiznow | Conquistador | $2,450,000 |
| Barretts May 2yo 17 | Animal Kingdom | Continental Divide | $245,000 |
| F-T Midlantic 2yo 17 | Curlin | Curlin's Honor | $1,500,000 |
| OBS June 2yo & HORA 17 | First Dude | There and Back | $400,000 |
| F-T July HORA 17 | Summer Bird | Distinta | $600,000 |
| F-T July Yearling 17 | Medaglia d'Oro | Yearling Filly | $1,000,000 |
| Barretts Paddock 17 | Animal Kingdom | California King | $180,000 |
| F-T Saratoga Yearling 17 | Curlin/Orb | Yearling Colts | $1,000,000 |
| F-T NY-Bred Yearling 17 | Cairo Prince | Yearling Colt | $500,000 |
| Barretts August Yearling 17 | Bodemeister | Takethediamondlane | $300,000 |
| F-T Turf Showcase 17 | Scat Daddy | Two Yearling Colts | $250,000 |
| Keeneland September Yearling 17 | Tapit | Yearling Filly | $2,700,000 |
| F-T Midlantic Fall Yearling 17 | Cairo Prince | World Affairs | $300,000 |
| OBS October Yearling 17 | Violence | Strike Silver | $275,000 |
| F-T NY Fall Mixed 17 | Into Mischief | Weanling Colt | $170,000 |
| Barretts Fall Yearling & Mixed 17 | Smiling Tiger | Smiling Diamonds | $220,000 |
| F-T KY Fall Yearling 17 | Medaglia d'Oro | Broadway d'Oro | $700,000 |
| F-T KY Fall Mixed 17 | Medaglia d'Oro | Songbird | $9,000,000 |
| Keeneland November Mixed 17 | Curlin | Stellar Wind | $6,000,000 |
| F-T Midlantic Winter Mixed 17 | Grasshopper | Carradine | $105,000 |
| Keeneland January Mixed 18 | Medaglia d'Oro | Mrs. McDougal | 1,600,000 |
| Barretts January Mixed 18 | Quality Road | Earnest | $120,000 |
| OBS Winter Mixed 18 | Violence | Yearling Filly | $200,000 |
| F-T KY Winter Mixed 18 | Medaglia d'Oro | Girl Talk | $310,000 |