Medaglia d'Oro Colt Lights Up Easter Sale Bid Board

The trend of high-powered owners partnering up continued April 5 in Australia, where a group formed at the last minute went to AU$2.4 million (US$1,817,800) to buy a Medaglia d'Oro   colt at the William Inglis & Son Easter sale.

Formed just hours before the sale, the partnership consisting of Coolmore, Stonestreet, Aquis/Bluesky, and Unifaith took home the colt to top the second session of the sale in Sydney.

Darley’s Medaglia d’Oro is one of the leading sires in North America and has also enjoyed great success in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australian group 1 winner Vancouver.

Offered by Yarraman Park Stud, agent, the colt was produced from multiple stakes winner Hoss Amor, by General Nediym.

John Moynihan, bloodstock agent for Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet, explained the partnership was formed because it was obvious the colt would be expensive.

“Everybody came together because everybody wanted the horse,” he said. “So we thought it best to go at it as a team rather than go against each other, knowing he was going to attract a lot of money.

“We got lucky. It was a lot to give, but we think he’s a special horse and I think you’ve got to step up to get the ones that look like they can be that good.”

The sale of the Medaglia d’Oro colt and a filly by Snitzel bought by Emirates Park from Arrowfield Stud for AU$1.7 million ($1,287,660) fueled a robust market that tracked well ahead of 2016 after the first two days.

With 10 lots selling for AU$1 million or more (there were nine-such transactions for the entire sale a year ago), Inglis reported 225 horses have sold for AU$79,660,000 ($60,338,500), an average price of AU$354,044 ($268,171), and a AU$270,000 ($204,511) median. At the same juncture in 2016, 291 head had grossed AU$81,832,500, for an average price of AU$281,211 and a median of AU$200,000.

Inglis managing director Mark Webster said the results are indicative of the international interest in racing and breeding.

“There are investors from all points of the globe at Newmarket this week—many working together to secure their chosen yearlings,” Webster said. “It really does show the international interest and strength of our industry and that’s an exciting position to be in.”

The Easter sale concludes April 6.