New Stakes Winner for Medaglia d'Oro

Mark Smith - Saturday April 6

After racing with little luck in Melbourne last spring, nothing looked like changing for Multaja when she made her 2019 debut in the Group II Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley on February 22, but a switch to Godolphin's Sydney stables has seen a turnaround in fortunes.

A soft win at Hawkesbury on March 20 proved the perfect prep for the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) to open her stakes account in Saturday's Group III PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Advertisement

With the field spread across the track at the 300 metres, Multaja came with a sweeping run down the outside under Craig Williams to defeat Into The Abyss (Foxwedge) by a head with a length and a quarter back to So Taken (Street Boss) in third. (images Steve Hart).


"We thought she was a certainty licked in the Red Roses (last spring) and we were patient this time in," winning trainer James Cummings said.

"She has rewarded us. She may go to the JB Carr (Stakes) but I have to be convinced she will run a strong seven. She should be a good chance in that.

"She had been knocking on the door for a stakes victory. Her form this preparation was excellent. Her defeat of the older mares (at Hawkesbury) was timely and it set her up beautifully for this."

The Darley homebred advanced her record to 4 wins and 1 second from 9 starts with earnings of $290,900.

A full sister to the 2017 Listed ATC Lonhro Plate winner Veranillo, Multaja is the third foal of the useful Lonhro mare Shelters who is a sister to the Group I BRC The TJ Smith Classic winner Benfica who is now on the Aquis Farm stallion roster.

Shelters has an unraced 2yo colt foal by Helmet named Shielded and a colt foal by Medaglia d'Oro (USA). She was covered by Medaglia d'Oro's Group 1 winning son Astern last spring.

Multaja becomes the 126th stakes-winner for Medaglia d'Oro (USA) who is back home in Kentucky after his eight years of shuttling came to an end in 2017.

He has 19 lots catalogued from his penultimate crop of yearlings at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Vale, Ryan Smith
Victorian breeding farm Kulani Park are mourning the loss of partner and family member Ryan Smith.
Mulberry Racing Purchase $550,000 Colt at Keeneland September
Australian based Mulberry Racing featured on the buyers list during the first session of the Keenland September Yearling Sale purchasing a colt by Quality Road for $550,000.
$3.3million Gun Runner Colt Tops Keeneland September Day 1
Keeneland’s 2025 September Yearling Sale began Monday with double-digit gains while posting a record average price of $653,208 and selling 15 horses for $1 million or more led by a colt by Gun Runner for $3.3 million to M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. The average topped the previous record $611,038 for a single session set during Day 2 in 2024, and the number of seven-
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 9
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
MRC Committee Returned Unopposed
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed the results of the 2025 nominations for the MRC Executive Committee and the Mornington Advisory Group (MAG), which will be formally ratified at the Club’s Annual General Meeting on 25 September.
Cogburn Sire Not This Time on Fire at Keeneland September
If you have been considering sending a mare to Widden Stud’s exciting new shuttle sire Cogburn (USA) or have already booked one in you are going to be pretty interested in what is going on at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale this week where his sire Not This Time is in hot demand.
Another Impressive New Winner St Mark’s Basilica
A colt that holds entries for several upcoming Group races, Piazza San Marco became the 12th winner for Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (FR) when bolting in at Galway overnight.
Kiwi Cup Hopeful Headed to Melbourne
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang will fly to Melbourne on Wednesday to commence his path towards the A$10 million feature.
Tragic News from Milburn Creek – Vale, Secret Admirer
Spring brings so many foaling stories from our studs each year and while the majority have a happy ending, sometimes things sadly don’t go as planned.
Waller Army Leads Cox Plate First Acceptances
Defending champion Via Sistina is among 21 horses champion trainer Chris Waller still has in contention for the $6 million 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, following the closure of first acceptances on Tuesday.