At
age 19, Medaglia d’Oro (USA) has handed in his frequent flyer card and will not
shuttle to Darley this spring, but we were reminded of his value at Wyong on Thursday
with a brilliant win for this three year-old filly.
A Darley homebred prepared by James Cummings, Taniko was a red hot favourite
for the 1200 metre maiden and gave nothing else a chance when striding
clear to win by three and a half
lengths.
With a win and a second from just two starts, Taniko looks a bright prospect to
follow in coming weeks as she steps up to better races.
Taniko is the fourth winner from Counterpane, a full sister to Group II winner
and $1.2 million earner Pinwheel.
Medaglia D’oro covered 82 mares last spring at a fee of $110,000 and while this
will be his last crop of Australian foals, Darley can also look forward to the
arrival of the first crop of foals this year by his Group I winning son Astern,
who is priced this spring at $33,000.