Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon–Born Gold, by Blushing Groom {Fr}), a French Group 3-winning half-sister to three-time GI Breeeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), was euthanized in her paddock at Old Friends Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, on Dec. 19. She was 27 years old and had resided at Old Friends since September 2020, when she was retired by LNJ Foxwoods' Larry, Nanci and Jaime Roth.
Bred by Wertheimer et Frere and trained for the brothers by Criquette Head, Gold Round won her maiden in her fourth career start and by the end of her freshman campaign in 1999, had taken out the Listed Prix des Sablonnets. She posted her career high at three the following season, winning the G3 Prix Cleopatre before retiring with three wins from 10 starts.
Gold Round produced a pair of black-type winners from her first 10 foals before selling to LNJ Foxwoods for €520,000 at the 2012 Arqana December Sale. The Dalakhani (Ire) filly she was carrying at the time of her purchase became LNJ Foxwoods' Group 3 winner Golden Valentine (Fr), who has since gone on to produce Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the 2023 G1 Kameko Futurity Trophy for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, who was bred in partnership with Ecurie des Monceaux. Gold Round is the dam of four further stakes horses, including GIII Robert J. Frankel Stakes winner and GI Rodeo Drive Stakes runner-up Luck (Kitten's Joy). She was retired from breeding duties in 2020.
The first two mares the Roths sent to Old Friends were Gold Round and Mystery Trip. Shortly after, Hi Dubai (GB) was sent to the farm as well..Gold Round was the last remaining retiree of the three original LNJ mares at Old Friends, as 22-year-old Mystery Trip was euthanized on May 1, 2023 due to chronic foot issues and 24-year old Hi Dubai died earlier this year on Aug. 24.
“I am saddened by the loss of Gold Round,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. “I enjoyed seeing this sweet mare in the LNJ Foxwoods paddock every day from my office window. In addition to being a remarkably successful broodmare, she and her paddock mates served as reminder of the Roth family's devotion to their horses and their partnership with Old Friends. We are consoled that leaving us at 27 years old, she enjoyed rich and happy retirement years with her LNJ Foxwood companions.”
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