Twice beaten into second place in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Medaglia d'Oro (USA) has certainly gained some revenge in the end of year championship through progeny such as Songbird and New Money Honey.
While his highly regarded son Bolt d'Oro could do no better than third in the BC Juvenile, the Darley stallion enjoyed a day out at Del Mar with Godolphin's homebred Talismanic winning the $4 million Breeder's Cup Turf shortly after his daughter Bar Of Gold pulled off a 60/1 shock in the Filly & Mare Sprint.
Given a ground-saving ride by Mickael Barzalona, the Andre Fabre-trained Talismanic finished best to defeat Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid) by a half-length with the defending champion Highland Reel (Galileo) a neck back in third.
"I can't believe it," Barzalona told The Blood-Horse.
"I am thrilled to have won my first Breeders' Cup race. I expected the horse to run well, but I'm not sure I thought I would win.
Talismanic is the seventh Grade 1 winner for Medaglia d'Oro (USA) in North America this season.
Godolphin had won earlier in the day with the Dubawi mare Wuheida in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
A son of the Grade III Royal Heroine Stakes winner and Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes third Magic Mission (Machiavellian), Talismanic is a half-brother to the dam of Group III winner Stage Magic (Dark Angel).
Third dam Capo di Monte (Final Straw) is a Group III winning half-sister to Wind In Her Hair (Alzao), the dam of Japanese legend Deep Impact as well as Black Tide the sire of the champion Kitasan Black.
