Breakthrough for Medaglia D'Oro's Durendal

Mark Smith - Sunday November 18

After a frustrating sequence of 12 stakes placings in Western Australia, the Chris Gangemi-trained Durendal finally broke the drought in Saturday's Group III Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot.

Ridden by Shaun McGruddy, Durendal defeated Belter (Denman) by half a length with Scales Of Justice (Not A Single Doubt) one and a half lengths back in third.

The 7-year old gelding by Medaglia d'Oro (USA) was a reliable money winner for his breeder David Moodie when trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra in Melbourne.

He won the Group III Standish Handicap at Flemington on New Year's Day in 2016 before eventually being sold to continue his career in the west.


Third behind Viddora in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) last year, Durendal will be given his chance in the same race on December 1.

"Big relief and I couldn't be happier for the horse," Gangemi told the West Australian.

"Obviously everyone makes fun of him but he tries his heart out every start.

"He's just a little horse that either carries big weights or he's at weight-for-age and it's hard to beat the good ones.

"We thought all prep he'd come back better than ever.

"Obviously he's one of the leading WA chances (in the Winterbottom) now but it's going to be hard with all the eastern staters coming. He'll probably run top four or five like he always does."

With his first win in the west, Durendal advances his record to 8 wins, 9 seconds and 8 from 41 starts with earnings of $881,300.

He is the seventh named foal and fourth stakes-winner out of the wonderful producer, the Group III winner Razor Blade (Blazing Sword).

He is a half-brother to their dual Group 1 winner Flamberge (Exceed And Excel), Listed stakes-winner and Group I placed Curtana (Exceed And Excel), and the Group II winner Sunburnt Land (Scenic) who was killed by lightning while spelling after placing in the Group 1 Patinack Classic and Salinger Stakes.

Razor Blade died in July 2016. Her final foal is a 3yo Redoute's Choice gelding named Weapons Of Choice.

Medaglia D'Oro's shuttling career came to an end this year but he has seven yearlings catalogued for the Magic Millions in January including a three-quarter brother to Durendal out of Curtana who is in the draft of Amarina Farm.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Best On Breeding
We are down to the final Group 1 race of the season, Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm, and for many the final race of their careers before embarking on a new career in the broodmare barn.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Impressive Medaglia d'Oro Filly Eyes the Tatts Tiara
Winner of the Group III PJ Bell Stakes at Randwick in April, the James Cummings-trained Multaja capped a wonderful day for Blake Shinn when she powered home to win Saturday’s Listed Mittys Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Medaglia d’Oro’s Flit Captures Thousand Guineas in a Thriller
Saturday’s Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) was a three-horse war over the final 300 metres and it was Godolphin’s race favourite Flit that edged out Missile Mantra and Southbank and had James Cummings contemplating a run in the Group I Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in a fortnight.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.