Caption: Astern (Medaglia d’Oro (USA)-Essaouira by Exceed and Excel).
September 10 2016 proved a red-letter day for Darley and Sheikh Mohammed’s Sadler’s Wells line sires Medaglia d’Oro (USA) and Teofilo (IRE) with Gr.1 wins from Astern in the Golden Rose and Palentino in the Makybe Diva Stakes. Both sires are on the roster at Kelvinside, Aberdeen, this southern season, Medaglia d’Oro at $110,000 and Teofilo on $44,000.
It wasn’t too shabby a day for Coolmore’s late-lamented High Chaparral (IRE) either with his son Silvera grabbing the Listed Morphettville Guineas at just his second start from grandaughter Smart as You Think (So You Think). A son of Sadler’s Wells, High Chaparral also sired the Golden Rose runner-up, the filly Omei Sword (ex MRC 1000 Guineas-Gr.1 winner Irish Lights by Fastnet Rock).
Darley home bred Astern (ex Essaouira by Exceed and Excel), whose fourth dam is champion Triscay (Marscay), took his prize money past $1m with his fifth win in six starts for trainer John O’Shea when the Medaglia d’Oro colt demolished a quality field in the Golden Rose-Gr.1 (1400m), running 1.23.91 and beating the Chris Waller-trained Omei Sword by 2.25 lengths. Lonhro colt Impending, a son of star filly and dual Gr.1 winner Mnemosyne (Encosta de Lago) was close up in third for the Darley team and looks another good stallion prospect. The winner and runner-up are from Danehill-line mares.
Teofilo’s 2016 Australian Guineas-Gr.1 winner Palentino (ex Palatine Hill by Palace Music (USA)) was also dominant in beating last start Memsie Stakes-Gr.1 winner Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars) in the Makybe Diva-Gr.1 (1600m) at Flemington by a length in 1:36.26. It was the Darren Weir-trained four year-old’s fourth win and took his prize money past $970,000, a big return on the $85,000 (top price) he cost at the Tasmanian MM Yearling Sale. He was bred by Jenny Watson at her Macleay Thoroughbred Stud at Westwood and now runs for Sun Stud who will stand the entire at the end of his racing career.
Teofilo (Galileo (IRE)-Speirbhean by Danehill (USA)) was unbeaten in five starts at two when he was rated the Champion 2YO Colt in Europe. His Gr.1 wins came in the National Stakes (7f) and the Dewhurst (7f) and he is back shuttling after a break. His other Australian Gr.1 winners are the Doncaster Handicap-Gr.1/George Main Stakes-Gr.1 winner Kermadec (ex Hi Fuji by Fuji Kiseki (JPN)) who is covering his first book at Darley, Kelvinside this season at $22,000 after retiring as the winner of $2.9m (14 first-four placings in his 17 starts) and the gelded Queensland Derby hero Sonntag (ex Parfaits by Strategic).
Teofilo’s dam was a Listed winner in Ireland and is from the US-bred Saviour, a daughter of Majestic Light (Majestic Prince-Irradiate by Ribot) and the Canadian Champion Older Mare Victorian Queen (Victoria Park-Willowfield by Stratus), dam of the Gr.1 winner and sire Judge Angelucci (by the Bold Ruler grandson Honest Pleasure). Teofilo is yet another descendant of the classic winner and outstanding taproot mare Chelandry (Goldfinch), winner of the 1897 English 1000 Guineas, whose descendants include Australian champion Heroic and more recent champion sprinter and sire success Anabaa (USA) (Danzig) among a host of outstanding runners.
Teofilo is by Champion UK-Ireland sire Galileo (Sadler’s Wells-Urban Sea by Miswaki) who has inherited his sire’s mantle as the dominant sire in Europe and who stands at Coolmore, Ireland. A brief shuttler to Australia, Galileo has a very good record with all things Danehill and lately with his son Fastnet Rock in particular. Teofilo is the product of this cross with Danehill daughters (as is champion Frankel) and he has appreciated further returns of that horse’s sire Danzig (Grand Lodge and his son Sinndar and Desert Style and his sire Green Desert for example) and has a Listed winner, Paene Magnus, who carries Danehill 3fx2f. He also has other Gr.1 winners from daughters of Thunder Gulch, Montjeu (Parish Hall, who has Sadler’s Wells 3mx3m), Machiavellian and Giant’s Causeway among his 57 stakes winners.
Palentino’s dam is a daughter of dual Gr.1 winner and successful international sire Palace Music (USA) (The Minstrel-Come My Prince by Prince John), whose sire is a three-quarter brother to champion Nijinsky and crosses very well with him when they meet in pedigrees. In Australia Palace Music is best remembered for his outstanding son Naturalism, but his best performer was the US champion Cigar (ex Solar Slew by Seattle Slew), winner of 19 races and almost $10m and US Horse of the Year in 1995 and 1996. Unfortunately Cigar proved infertile but Naturalism (ex Zephyr Souba by Zephyr Bay) had a modest stud career and his daughters have left 190 winners (7SW) of $15m including Golden Slipper runner-up and sire Zizou.
Palentino’s dam Palatine Hill won four races to 2050m including an event at Moonee Valley. She is a half-sister to the stakes winners Rather Grand (Grand Lodge) and Sublimity (Testa Rossa), both sired by grandsons of Danzig. Second dam Rather Droll, a winner at 1000m, is a daughter of Sovereign Red (Sir Tristram) and the imported Love Divine (USA) (by the Tom Rolfe son Droll Role, winner of the Washington D.C. International). Palentino’s fourth dam Shellshock won up to a mile and was third in the English 1000 Guineas.
A daughter of Yorkshire Cup winner Salvo (Right Royal) and Priddy Maid (Acropolis), she produced nine winners including the Gr.2 winners and Gr.1 placed Missionary Ridge (Caerleon) and Seismic Wave (Youth), both sires. This is family 19b and family members include Gr.2 winner and Australian Derby-Gr.1 runner-up Ambitious General (by General Nediym), a horse line bred to Right Royal.
Interestingly, Teofilo-sired Gr.1 winner Sonntag also has a second dam by Sovereign Red and a fifth dam by Alycidon (a half-brother to Acropolis). Sonntag’s broodmare sire Strategic is a son of Zeditave (The Judge), whose dam Summoned is by Crowned Prince (Raise a Native-Gay Hostess by Royal Charger), a Dewhurst Stakes-Gr.1 winner who is a brother to Kentucky Derby-Gr.1 winner Majestic Prince, sire of Majestic Light. (Sonntag has Majestic Prince-Crowned Prince 5×5).
Astern
MEDAGLIA d’Oro (El Prado-Cappucino Bay by Bailjumper) was already an established sire in the US with runners like US Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Roar), so expectations were high when he stood his first southern season for Darley in 2010. That first crop showed promise and included some handy performers notably Gr.3 winner Nostradamus (ex Leone Chiara by Lion Hunter), who is standing his first season at Rosemont in Victoria in 2016 on $8800.
But there was one out of the box in Medaglia d’Oro’s second southern crop in the shape of Champion 2YO and Golden Slipper-Gr.1 winner Vancouver (ex Skates by Danehill). Vancouver won four of his five starts and $2.38m and was snapped up by Coolmore where he is covering his first mares this season at $66,000.
On the strength of his first Gr.1 win in the Golden Rose on September 10 you would have to say Astern is another right out of the top drawer. Jockey James McDonald certainly thinks so, rating him six lengths better than Darley’s 2015 Golden Rose winner Exosphere (Lonhro-Altitude by Danzero) and saying, “there is no horse in the land who would sprint faster over 400m.”
Now winner of five of his six starts, the only blot on his copybook came in the Golden Slipper at just his third start after beating Defcon in the Silver Slipper-Gr.2 at his previous outing. He also won the Kindergarten-Gr.3 at his start after the Golden Slipper and is unbeaten at three after landing the Run to the Rose-Gr.2 on August 27 and the Golden Rose on September 10.
Medaglia d’Oro, a triple Gr.1 winner in the US at 9f-10f and twice runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic-Gr.1 (among six Gr.1 seconds), is a son of the Irish juvenile Gr.1 winner El Prado (Sadler’s Wells-Lady Capulet by Sir Ivor) who overcame a tough start at stud in the US to be Champion US Sire in 2002. A grey who died in 2002, he is also sire of Breeders’ Cup Mile-Gr.1 winner Artie Schiller (ex Hidden Light by Majestic Light), whose dam sire, a triple Gr.1 winner and grandson of Raise a Native, is also the sire of the second dam of Teofilo. Artie Schiller has left Gr.1 winners in the US and Australia at stands at $22,000 at Emirates Park, Murrurundi.
Medaglia d’Oro’s dam Cappucino Bay is a Listed winner by the multiple Gr.2 winner Bailjumper (Damascus) and from multiple winner Dubbed In, by US 2YO Champion Colt Silent Screen (Prince John, who hails from the same branch of family 9b as Medaglia d’Oro, whose sixth dam Sunday Evening (Eight Thirty) is the second dam of Silent Screen. This is also the family of Bluebird (Storm Bird), one of the best early shuttlers, whose fourth dam is Sunday Evening.
Astern is the third winner from four named foals of Essaouira, a daughter of Darley’s high-class Danehill son Exceed and Excel (ex Patrona by Lomond), Australia’s Champion Sprinter of 2003-04 and winner of seven of his 12 starts including the VRC Newmarket-Gr.1 and MRC Invitation Stakes-Gr.1 at three after Gr.2 success in the Todman Slipper Trial at two. The Champion Australian Sire of 2012-13 and also on $110,000 at Darley, Kelvinside, his runners include Golden Slipper winner Overreach, outstanding European miler Excelebration (IRE) (on the Coolmore roster), Helmet (also at Darley), Reward For Effort (Chatswood Stud) and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf-Gr.1 winner Outstrip, whose dam is by El Prado.
It’s also worth noting that Exceed and Excel’s dam sire Lomond (Northern Dancer-My Charmer by Poker) is a half-brother to Seattle Slew, whose line has worked well with Medaglia d’Oro in the US, producing the likes of Gr.1 winners Plum Pretty (A.P. Indy) and Warrior’s Reward (USA) (ex For All You Do by Seeking the Gold), whose second dam is by Seattle Slew and who is standing his second southern season at Spendthrift, Victoria ($11,000) and already has earners of more than $7m in the US.
Essaouira had just two starts, winning on debut at Moonee Valley and then being unplaced in a Listed event at Caulfield. Also dam of Group placed Mogador (Lonhro), she is from the Magic Night Stakes-Gr.2 winner Alizes, a winner of three races at two and also Gr.2 placed at three and a daughter of Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Rory’s Jester (Crown Jester) and the AJC The Galaxy-Gr.1 winner La Baraka, a daughter of Rubiton’s Goodwood Handicap-Gr.1-winning brother Euclase (Century-Ruby by Seventh Hussar (FR)) and champion Triscay by Golden Slipper winner and champion sire Marscay from Tristram Lady by Sir Tristram (IRE).
Bred and raced by Geoff and Beryl White, who also raced her sire, Triscay, bred on the same Marscay-Sir Tristram cross as Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay, won seven races at two including the Champagne Stakes-Gr.1 (1600m), Silver Slipper-Gr.2 (1100m), Blue Diamond Prelude-Gr.3 (1000m) and Reisling Slipper Trial-Gr.2 (1200m) and was third in the Blue Diamond-Gr.1. She stretched that speed out to 2400m at three when she won the AJC Oaks-Gr.1 and Queensland Oaks-Gr.1, as well as landing the Flight Stakes-Gr.1 and Australian Guineas-Gr.1 at a mile and the Apollo Stakes-Gr.2 (1400m).
The Champion Three Year-Old of 190-91 and Champion Two Year-Old Filly of 1989-90 and winner of 15 races, Triscay hails from family 16b and her second dam Doldrum (IRE) (Whistling Wind-Say Magic by Sayajirao) is a grandaughter of Malcolmia (Sayani-Silvery Moon by Solario), dam of the Coronation Cup winner and champion NZ sire Oncidium (Alcide). Silvery Moon’s dam Silver Fox II (Foxhunter-Pearl Maiden by Phaleron), 11th dam of Astern, is a half-sister to French Derby winner Pearlweed (Hotweed), French 1000 Guineas winner Bipearl (Biribi), French Oaks, 1000 Guineas and Arc de Triomphe winner Pearl Cap (Le Capucin) and stakes winner Pearlash (Bruleur). Pearl Maiden carried 3×3 inbreeding to brother and sister St Simon and Angelica and her dam, Sea Shell carried Bend Or 3mx3f.
In addition to producing Gr.1 winner La Baraka, Triscay’s seven winners also included the Gr.2 winner and sire Tsuimai (Thunder Gulch), stakes placed Robrick (Grand Lodge) and Satyric (Danehill), winner of her only two starts and dam of stakes winners Agister (Mossman) and Readyor (More Than Ready). Triscay’s half-sister Dane Vintage (Danzero) is the dam of stakes winner Vintner (Hennessy), a Darley-owned broodmare and dam of the 2016 Mona Lisa Stakes-LR winner Fitou (Street Cry (IRE)), a winner of five and more than $220,000 for Godolphin. They could easily be part of Astern’s harem when he eventually joins the Darley roster.
Silvera
GREY colt Silvera (High Chapparal (IRE)-Silver Tiara by Ferocity), a three-quarter brother to multiple Gr.1 winner Shoot Out, also looks to have a bright future. His win in the Morphettville Guineas-LR (1600m) on September 10 came at just his second start after a debut win for trainer Tony McEvoy over 1400m at Mildura on August 19.
His sire died in December 2014 after covering a book of 147 mares (116 live foals) at his fifth Australian season after previously doing southern stud duty in NZ where his progeny included dual W.S. Cox Plate-Gr.1 winner So You Think (NZ), whose daughter Smart as You Think was a short half-head runner-up to Silvera in the Guineas. Ace Attack, a son of VRC Derby winner Rebel Raider (by the Darley-based sire Reset), who stands at Wyndholm Park in Victoria, was a head back in third.
So You Think ($49,500 at Coolmore), from the Gr.2 winner Triassic by Tights (NZ), won Gr.1 races in Australia, Ireland and England and retired to stud in 2012. He had NZ Gr.2 winner Gold Rush last season and the stakes placed Smart as You Think and Conscious and the winners are coming quickly now his first youngsters have turned three.
High Chaparral’s Gr.1 wins included the English Derby-Irish Derby double as well the Breeders’ Cup Turf Twice and the Racing Post Trophy (at two). His unraced dam Kasora is by the French Derby winner Darshaan (by Shirley Heights by Mill Reef), making High Chaparral yet another successful product of a cross, generalised as Sadler’s Wells/Mill Reef, responsible for many Gr.1 winners. High Chaparral’s second dam is Gr.2 winner Kozana, a daughter of champion sire Kris (Sharpen Up) and Koblenza (by the Djebel son Hugh Lupus). High Chaparral is yet another descendant of the earlier-mentioned Chelandry (11th dam).
As well as siring So You Think and Shoot Out, High Chaparral is also responsible for the six-times Gr.1 winner Dundeel (NZ) (ex Stareel by Zabeel), the 2013-14 Horse of the Year in NZ and winner of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Australian Derby. He began stud duty at Arrowfield in 2014 and stands at $27,500. High Chaparral’s champion European Miler son Toronado (IRE) (ex Wana Do by Grand Slam), winner of the Sussex Stakes-Gr.1 and Queen Anne Stakes-Gr.1 at three, has shuttled to Swettenham, Nagambie since 2015 and stands at $22,000.
High Chaparral’s VRC Derby-AJC Spring Champion Stakes winner Monaco Consul (NZ) (ex Argante by Star Way) is at Kingstar Farm, Denman ($6600) and his runners include dual Gr.1 runner-up Honesta, while the Prince of Wales’s Stakes-Gr.1 winner Free Eagle (IRE) (ex Polished Gem by Danehill) is a new shuttler on the Cornerstone, SA roster in 2016 on $18,700.
Silvera, who came with a long late charge to take the Guineas, also hails from an illustrious family (14c) and traces to Pretty Polly (Gallinule), winner of the 1904 English 1000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger, the 1903 Champagne, Cheveley Park and Middle Park Stakes, the 1905 and 1906 Coronation Cup and 1905 Champion Stakes. She is one of the stellar taproot mares and is Silvera’s 12th dam.
His eighth dam, Italian Gran Criterium winner Donatella (Mahmoud), is a three-quarter sister to Italian Derby winner and sire Donatello II (Blenheim). This branch of the family came to Australia with the arrival of Francella (GB) (Le Levenstall-Franconia by Charlottesville) a 1972 foal, as was another imported family member Donna Nook (GB) (Relko-Donna Lydia by Hyperion from Donatella), both bought here by the Derby-King Ranch partnership who owned Woodlands Stud at the time. Donna Nook’s descendants include County, Beans, Half Hennessy, Dieu d’Or, Maizcay, Fitting (by Marscay, whose dam was also a King Ranch product) and her Golden Slipper-winning son Catbird (Danehill).
Francella’s daughter Jazz Concert, by Showdown’s half-brother Duke Ellington (IRE) (Prince Tenderfoot), bred by the Derby-King Ranch partnership, was only placed and her daughter, Johnny Loves Jazz (NZ) by Virginia Privateer (USA) was unraced. Her sire has familiar breeding as he is a son of Majestic Prince and his dam, Virginia Reef, is by Mill Reef from a mare by Abernant. Johnny Loves Jazz had nine to race (all winners) including Gr.2 winner and Adelaide Cup-Gr.1 runner-up Native Jazz (by the Sir Ivor son St Hilarion (USA), whose second dam is by Raise a Native).
Another of those nine winners was Pentamarous, a daughter of dual Gr.1 winner and champion NZ sire Pentire (GB) (Be My Guest-Gull Nook by Mill Reef). She left the five-time Gr.1 winner Shoot Out to a mating with High Chaparral and the WA Oaks-Gr.3 winner Cassandra Shadow to a mating with Johannesburg. Her daughter Silver Tiara is a daughter of the grey Ascot Vale Stakes-Gr.2 (now the Coolmore-Gr.1) winner and Danehill-line sire Ferocity (Lion Hunter-Chaira by Last Tycoon), a half-brother to multiple Gr.1 winner and now Widden-based sire Star Witness (Starcraft) and also related to Nostradamus. She raced just twice for unplaced runs in Sydney after being purchased for $320,000 as a yearling. Silvera is her only named foal but she has a 2015 filly by Foxwedge and is due to foal to Dream Ahead (USA) this season.
Bred by Linda Huddy, Silvera has an intriguing pedigree with Pentire’s dam Gull Nook being a three-quarter sister to Shirley Heights (sire of Darshaan). They appear 4×4 in this pedigree (Hardiemma 5mx6f), while Mill Reef is 5mx6f,5f,6f and Northern Dancer is 3mx6m,6m,5m.
Published: October 2016
