MEDADGLIA D’oro (Darley Aberdeen), the source of Astern, winner of this year’s Run To The Rose, is one of two of the best racing and sire sons of El Prado, a grey son of Sadler’s Wells bred in Ireland in 1989 who, running for Robert Sangster, followed up wins in three majors at Curragh at two by becoming a very successful sire in America, available at Dubai-owned studs in the Hunter Valley.
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Also used in America, the other is Artie Schiller, a 2001 bay El Prado sire who is on his ninth visit to Australia, standing this year on $22,000 at Nasser Lootah’s Emirates Park at Blandford, Murrurundi, but previously used out here in Mike Becker’s care in Victoria at the Independent Stallions Stud and then Emirates Victoria.
So far Artie Schiller has had about 250 Australian sired starters, 150 winners (11 SWs) of 400 races and $13million.
In the 2015-16 year, his Australia produced horses included 61 winners (four successful in stakes, two at two; 11 two-year-old winners) of 88 races and $3.9m.
All told he has had in Australia 11 stakes winners and six stakes placed.
Those on his honour board include Group 1 Classic star Laser Hawk (dam by Canny Lad; won Rosehill Guineas, third ATC Australian Derby, Randwick Guineas, George Main Stakes) and 2015-16 two-year-olds Good Standing (Giant’s Causeway; won the Silver Slipper and Kindergarten) and Flying Artie (Rubiton; won Blue Diamond Prelude, second Blue Diamond, Maribyrnong Plate, third Golden Slipper).
Group 1 performers in America have included We Miss Artie (Fusaichi Pegasus; won Keeneland Breeders’ Futurity), My Conquestadory (Malibu Moon; Keeneland Alcibiades Stakes, third Del Mar Oaks), Mr. Commons (Apalachee; two Group 2 wins, Group1 placed in three, including Santa Anita Derby) and Blingo (Sure Blade; Group 2 winner, third Santa Anita Handicap).
Artie Schiller was a high class American performer who, in earning $2m, ran 22 times for 10 wins, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
He is from Hidden Light, a Majestic Light Santa Anita Oaks, Hollywood Oaks and Del Mar Oaks winner out of Tallahto, a half-sister to the dam of Ferdinand, a Nijinsky winner of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders Cup Classic.
Used at stud in America and then Japan, Ferdinand ended up with the ignomy of being slaughtered for use as pet food or human consumption.
El Prado (1989 – 2009), the sire of Artie Schiller and Medaglia d’Oro, was only used in America, rising up to be one of the most formidable sires of his time. Sixteen crops produced over 600 winners (88 SWs) of 2300 races and $117m.
His greatest legacy in America has been 2001 foaled Kitten’s Joy (dam by Roberto sire Lear Fan), their Champion Turf Male performer at three. Champion North American Sire 2013 and Leading Turf Sire for four successive years, he has had eight crops of racing age provide 465 winners (69 SWs, four champions) of 1391 races and $59m.
