by Pete Denk

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley operation has purchased Medaglia d’Oro, the sire of three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra, winner of this year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) and BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1).

Medaglia d’Oro is the leading second crop sire as of June 4 with progeny earnings of $4,511,650. He has three graded stakes winners and seven stakes winners.

The ten-year-old El Prado (Ire) horse stood at Audrey Haisfield’s Stonewall Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, since 2006. He moved to Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington on Friday.

“Sheikh Mohammed has been following Medaglia d’Oro’s stud career with great interest and has been most impressed not only by the likes of Rachel Alexandra and many other exciting prospects in his first crop which are now three-year-olds, but also by the quality of yearlings that we have seen at public auction,” said John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed’s Bloodstock advisor. “We purchased the sale topping Medaglia d’Oro half-brother to Midas Eyes for $1.6-million at Calder this year.  He has been renamed Al Zir and he is going well.  Sheikh Mohammed believes that Medaglia d’Oro has a very exciting future ahead of him.”

Richard and Audrey Haisfield, who privately purchased Medaglia d’Oro from Edmund Gann at the conclusion of his racing career, stood Medaglia d’Oro at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington his first year at stud in 2005. His stud fee grew from an initial $35,000 to $60,000 in 2009.

Richard Haisfield called the transaction bittersweet.

“Tears have to come to my eyes when I think of him, but this is his opportunity to become a major stallion in the world,” Haisfield said. “Sometimes you can’t say no to a price, particularly if you want to do right for the stallion. This was a wonderful opportunity for Medaglia as well as the farm. This deal provides financial security for the farm in the long term, which is always worthwhile, particularly in these trying financial times.”

Barry Weisbord and Richard Santulli maintained a 20% interest in Medaglia d'Oro following Darley's purchase.

Darley officials have not set a 2010 stud fee.

Bred in Kentucky by Albert and Joyce Bell, Medaglia d’Oro is out of Cappucino Bay, by Bailjumper. He won eight of 17 starts and earned $5,754,720 during his racing career from 2001-’04. His seven graded wins included the ’02 Travers Stakes (G1), the ’03 Whitney Handicap (G1), and the ’04 Donn Handicap (G1).

He finished second seven times, including in the ’02 Belmont Stakes (G1), the ’02 and ’03 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and the ’04 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1).

Besides Rachel Alexandra, Medaglia d’Oro’s graded winners are 2008 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (G3) winner C. S. Silk and ’09 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) winner Payton d’Oro. All seven of his stakes winners to date are fillies.

From an initial crop of 150, Medaglia d’Oro has 95 starters and 40 winners. He has 101 current two-year-olds.

Pete Denk is sales editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES