Talismanic, a top-class son of leading sire Medaglia d’Oro and winner of last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, will join the Darley roster in Japan for 2019.
Under the care of master trainer Andre Fabre throughout his career, Talismanic broke his maiden by no fewer than seven lengths at two.
From then on, he raced almost exclusively in Stakes company, winning twice at Listed level at three, the same season he finished a creditable fourth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club.
Two further Black Type wins followed during the summer of his four-year-old campaign, including in the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, where he beat this year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo.
Talismanic’s finest hour came last November, with victory in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar. Under Mickael Barzalona, Talismanic came with a superb run down the home straight to win by half a length, setting a new course record and beating nine G1 winners in the process.
He rounded off his 2017 campaign with a creditable second in the G1 Hong Kong Vase.
Talismanic’s outstanding sire Medaglia d’Oro has recorded 21 G1 winners to date, who have won on both turf and dirt and from distances ranging from 1200-2400m. He is also one of the world’s leading sires at the sales, with a world-beating eight yearlings to have made a million US dollars or more this year alone.
Talismanic is out of the G1-placed G3 winner Magic Mission, herself from the same outstanding female family as Deep Impact.
Harry Sweeney, President of Darley Japan, said “We are really excited to have Medaglia d’Oro’s best turf son, Talismanic, in Japan. He has a wonderful pedigree, his exceptional sire has sent out numerous winners in a variety of races and his family has produced many big-name horses. He is extremely attractive with a gorgeous body, and we are looking forward to introducing him to our clients in Japan”.
His stud fee will be announced at a later date.