Coolmore America Handbook 2017

MATING SUGGESTIONS: In an epic 2014-15 season, Australian racing was fortunate that the two-year-old scene was dominated by a pair of very talented, well-bred colts in Vancouver and Pride of Dubai. It was the imposing Vancouver who was rated the better, topping the Australian Classifications by 2lb. In the process he staked his claim to being considered the best son of American stallion Medaglia d’Oro. Vancouver owed his champion status to an unbeaten record of four wins, culminating in the highly prestigious Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes – a race which has long been considered a natural stepping stone to stallion success. Like the superstar Frankel and the champion European 2yo Teofilo, he was sired by a member of the Sadler’s Wells male line from a daughter of the many-times champion sire Danehill. The MR. PROSPECTOR sire line is very appealing for Vancouver. This line works very well with his broodmare sire Danehill and also with Vancouver’s sire Medaglia D’Oro. Much of Medaglia d’Oro’s success has been founded on the FORTY NINER branch. His brilliant daughters Rachel Alexandra and Songbird both have sons of Forty Niner as their broodmare sire and another son, DISTORTED HUMOR , is the broodmare sire of two Gr.2 winners and 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner New Money Honey. Medaglia d’Oro has also worked well with GONE WEST and his son GRAND SLAM ; with KINGMAMBO and his son LEMON DROP KID ; and with SEEKING THE GOLD and SMART STRIKE. He also excelled with Gulch’s son THUNDER GULCH , siring two Gr.1 winners. As Teofilo sired a dual Gr.1 winner from a THUNDER GULCH mare, this is an avenue worth exploring with Vancouver. STORM CAT sired the second dams of two of Medaglia d’Oro’s Gr.1 winners, Mshawish and Violence, and the precocious Vancouver should sire talented 2yos from this line. Daughters of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY , HENNESSY and TALE OF THE CAT appeal, especially as Teofilo has a Gr.1-winning 2yo with a dam by GIANT’S CAUSEWAY . SCAT DADDY mares should help reinforce Vancouver’s considerable 2yo talent. Other stallions out of Danehill mares have Gr.1 winners inbred 4 x 4 to DANZIG . This suggests that VANCOUVER is a possible mate for grand-daughters of DANZIG , by such as EXCHANGE RATE , HARD SPUN and WAR FRONT . These create 4 x 3 to DANZIG . Three sons of SEATTLE SLEW appear among the broodmare sires of Medaglia d’Oro’s Graded winners, including A.P. INDY . The A.P. Indy stallions with Mr Prospector blood, such as MALIBU MOON , BERNARDINI , PULPIT , MINESHAFT and CONGRATS , should therefore suit Vancouver. He also has the size to suit TAPIT mares. The similarly-bred Teofilo has a fine record with mares from the BLUSHING GROOM male line, siring Gr.1 or Gr.2 winners from daughters of RAHY , RAINBOW QUEST , GROOM DANCER and QUEST FOR FAME . Frankel has sired one of his first Group winners from another RAHY mare. Medaglia d’Oro’s achievements with the ROBERTO line include Gr.1 and Gr.2 winners out of KRIS S. mares.

Medaglia d'Oro's Vancouver to Ashford may be the most suitable and exciting reverse shuttle to North America from Australia. No Mr P, Storm Cat, or AP Indy. Those lines will be perfect, and they are abundant. Note that Uncle Mo was a champion 2yo and Scat Daddy was a top 2yo for Ashford, and Vancouver and Air Force Blue, both 2yo champs... Twitter @Sid Fernando

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