Perennial leading sire Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado {Ire})'s stud fee has been raised from $150,000 to $200,000, and he will be joined by his son Astern ($15,000) on the 2018 stallion roster at Jonabell Farm, Darley announced Wednesday. Medaglia d'Oro has had arguably his best year ever at stud in 2017, siring five Grade I winners in dual champion Songbird, turf specialists Dickinson and New Money Honey, distaffer Elate and expected GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile favorite Bolt d'Oro.
“Medaglia d'Oro has enjoyed his best year ever, with five Grade I winners in 2017 and the potential for a big Breeders' Cup,” said Darren Fox, Darley's American sales manager. “It's a very exciting time to be adding his top-rated son Astern to our roster.”
Astern has been well received in his first southern hemisphere season as a Darley stallion at Kelvinside Farm in Australia. Winner of the G1 Golden Rose S., Australia's top seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds, Astern's 126 Timeform rating stamps him as Medaglia d'Oro's top-rated son in either hemisphere.
Bernardini (A.P. Indy), sire of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint contender and 'TDN Rising Star' Takaful, receives a slight reduction in his stud fee from $100,000 to $85,000.
Frosted (Tapit) and Nyquist (Uncle Mo), whose first foals will arrive in 2018, will remain at $50,000 and $40,000, respectively in the new year, while freshman sire Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz})'s fee also remains steady at $30,000.
“Animal Kingdom has had a fantastic start at stud with his first 2-year-olds, and they should only continue to get better as three-year-olds next year,” Fox said. “We're really looking forward to seeing the first foals by Frosted and Nyquist on the ground in a few months. All in all, there's a lot to be excited about going into 2018.”
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