The 29th of July 2006 at Leopardstown was a pretty good day for renowned trainer Jim Bolger as he saddled Teofilo to win the Listed Tyros Stakes, Heliostatic in the Group III Meld Stakes and Gaudeamus (USA) in the feature Group II Debutante Stakes.
Both on the racetrack and at stud, Teofilo would go on to put Galileo on the map but for Heliostatic, another son of Galileo, and Gaudeamus it was to be their last wins.
Heliostatic, who was Galileo’s first winner, went on to find success at stud in Argentina.
A daughter of the short-term shuttler Distorted Humor (USA), Gaudeamus had already won a Listed race at the Curragh and was clearly a talented two-year-old.
She lost her way at three although she contested some pretty hot races including the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas and Group 1 Irish Oaks.
The Gaudeamus story could have ended there and then had it not been for Sheamus Mills, who was heading up a fledgling bloodstock agency.
It was a joy when Mills shared his story on Twitter.
But Gaudeamus was no overnight wonder.
She landed in Australia in foal to Pivotal and had a colt named Fullcrum who was a 5-time winner around country Victoria.
Her second foal retired a maiden after three starts and her third made just two unsuccessful starts.
Her fourth foal Igitur (Helmet) has more than paid his way with 8 wins and $163,765 including a last start win at Murray Bridge.
The fifth foal Be Mindful has won four and placed in five of his 13 starts, but the Chris Waller-trained son of Pierro hasn’t been seen since winning at Canterbury in June last year.
Purchased by Josh Hutchins Bloodstock on behalf of Element Hill for $160,000 off Wood Nook Farm at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Gaudeamus (USA) was about to hit the bigtime.
Golden Sixty
The foal she was carrying was Golden Sixty who last Sunday at Sha Tin scored a breathtaking win in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) to become only the second horse, after Rapper Dragon in 2017, to sweep all three legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series following wins in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).
The son of Medaglia d'Oro was a $300,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale purchase for his trainer Francis Lui from the Riversley Park draft having been pinhooked from the Element Hill draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $120,000.
Gaudeamus is one of seven winners out of the stakes-placed Seattle Slew mare Leo’s Lucky Lady who is a half-sister to the wonder broodmare Korveya the dam of the Classic winners Bosra Sham, Hector Protector and Shanghai.
Gaudeamus has a 3yo Fastnet Rock colt named Quiet Riot who is showing good ability for Bjorn Baker. He won first-up at Warwick Farm and is out spelling following a fourth at Canterbury on February 14.
The daughter of Distorted Humor has a 2yo Choisr filly that was purchased by Matthew Dunn/Neil Jenkinson for $120,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
After foaling a filly by Capitalist last spring Gaudeamus was covered by Widden Stud’s Trapeze Artist.
