The new gold standard

Medaglia d’Oro: more Graded Stakes winners and more Grade 1 winners that any other stallion from the crops of 2006 and 2007

Compare the 2006 and 2007 crops of Medaglia d'Oro with all the top stallions around the world and he comes away with the gold medal. When those crops feature five individual G1 winners, including America’s Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, it’s easy to see why.

‘Rachel’ is joined by Gabby’s Golden Gal and Warrior’s Reward as top-flight first-crop winners, while Champagne d’Oro ensured that the finish of the G1 Acorn Stakes last weekend provided a real champagne moment, adding his name to the second-crop roll of honor alongside juvenile G1 winner Passion For Gold and the G1-placed Al Zir.

Payton d’Oro, C S Silk, Medaglia d’Amour and Al Khali have also played their part in ensuring that their sire leads the way not just on G1 winners but in that, with his total of nine, no other stallion has sired more Graded Stakes winners from those two crops. Medaglia d’Oro also boasts an impressive ratio of 9.3 per cent Stakes winners to foals.

His statistics all point to the fact that he is one of the best and most exciting stallions in the world. And if you need convincing, watch Rachel Alexandra’s tour de force in the Kentucky Oaks here. It’s pure gold.