From a Group 1, classic winning three-year-old at Ellerslie, to Listed winners at Ascot and Doomben, former Darley shuttler Medaglia d'Oro went on a stakes-winning blitz on Saturday.
While we have covered the win of the Australian-bred Crown Prosecutor in the Group 1 NZ Derby at Ellerslie, across the Tasman the 6yo Medaglia d'Oro (USA) gelding Sword of Justice provided under siege trainer Ben Currie with some badly needed good news with a runaway win in the Listed Tattersall's Member's Cup (1600m) at Doomben.
However, Currie was not on course to share in the celebrations as he was barred by the Brisbane Racing Club from attending the meeting despite training on a stay of proceedings into multiple alleged offences.
Formerly trained by Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra for owner/breeder David Moodie's Contract Racing, Sword of Justice was winning for the third time at the 12th start since making his debut for his new owners back in April last year.
Under a positive ride by Brad Stewart, Sword Of Justice led at every call to defeat First Crush (Husson) by two and a quarter lengths with a short head to Xebec (US) (Mizzen Mast) in third.
"There was a question about him at 1600m but I was always going to lead and I was able to run them off their feet," Stewart told AAP.
A half-brother to Group II VRC Let's Elope Stakes winner Sword Of Light (New Approach), Sword Of Justice becomes the second stakes-winner for the stakes-placed King's Best mare Joyeuse, who is a daughter of Moodie's blue hen Razor Blade.
Joyeuse has an unraced Written Tycoon 2yo filly named Singing Sword. She missed to Written Tycoon in 2017 and was covered by Coolmore's new boy Churchill (IRE) last spring.
Sword Of Justice became the 121st stakes-winner for Medaglia d'Oro (USA) who did not have to wait long for his 122nd.
It came with the Peters Investments homebred Adornment at Ascot.
In the space of five starts, the 3yo filly has progressed from a debut seventh in a maiden at Bunbury on New Year's Day to a Listed win in the Ascot 1000 Guineas at Ascot for the old firm, William Pike, Bob Peters and Grant and Alana Williams.
Sent off an odds-n favourite on the strength of an easy win over 1600 metres on the same track on February 13, Adornment rattled home to defeat Vintage Stock (Tavistock) by one and a quarter lengths with
"She settled reasonably well considering the slow tempo and she found under pressure there, too," Pike told the West Australian.
"I had Paddy Carbery's horse (Vintage Stock) coming underneath me and edging me aside and I thought it was a good effort to find under that pressure.
"She's got the stamina for it but it would just be nice if we could allow for some pacemakers here in WA."
Installed as the favourite for the WA Oaks, Adornment will likely make her next start in the Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m) on March 16.
A sister to the multiple city winners
Jewelled has been a regular visitor to So You Think of late. She has an unraced 2yo gelding named Treasured Crown by the dual Cox Plate winner as well as a yearling filly.
After slipping to So You Think in 2017, she was covered by the champion son of High Chaparral again last spring.
After 10 consecutive seasons, Medaglia d'Oro (USA) (pictured ) did not return to Darley last spring but he has left a fine legacy with Golden Slipper winner Vancouver who has his first crop of yearlings at the sales this year, while Golden Rose winner Astern has proven to be a popular replacement for his sire at Darley.
