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...
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
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.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
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.