Perennial top sire Medaglia d'Oroonce again heads Darley's Jonabell Farm roster for 2023 with his fee remaining at $100,000, the same amount as 2022.
Darley has also added two new stallions to the now-11 horse roster, including G1SW Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and GISW Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). Mystic Guide, who won the 2021 G1 Dubai World Cup, was retired earlier this year. He will stand for a fee of $15,000 in his initial season at stud.
Speaker's Corner, a Godolphin homebred out of Tyburn Brook (Bernardini) who is bred on the same cross as fellow Darley stallion Maxfield, won the GI Carter H. in April with a dominating performance and a 114 Beyer Speed Figure. He also won this year's GII Gulfstream Park Mile S. and GIII Fred W. Hooper S. before finishing behind Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI Metropolitan H. and GII John A. Nerud S., respectively. He retires with a record of 13-6-2-2 and earnings of $739,963. Speaker's Corner will enter his first season at a fee of $20,000.
“We've been very fortunate in the last two years to have produced five high-level performers [Mystic Guide, Speaker's Corner, Essential Quality, Maxfield, and Cody's Wish] and it's even more gratifying that they are all homebreds,” said Darley Sales Manager Darren Fox. “Following last year's retirement of Essential Quality and Maxfield, to again be able to add more top-caliber horses is very, very exciting.”
Essential Qualityand Maxfield, who both await their first foals in the spring, will remain at $75,000 and $40,000, respectively. Both had full books for 2022 in their first seasons. Street Sensewill also remain at his 2022 fee of $75,000, while Midshipmanwill see a fee increase to $20,000.
“Optimism abounds currently in the Thoroughbred industry,” said Fox. “The sales are strong, purses are strong, and close to home, we experienced unprecedented demand during the 2022 booking season. With all these positives, only one of our stallions will see a fee increase for 2023 and that's Midshipman, who continues to go from strength to strength in his stud career.”
Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), who sold for €2.5 million to rank as the second-dearest offering at last year's Arqana Vente d'Elevage, is headed back through the Deauville sales pavilion in early December.
The daughter of Madonna Lily (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) belied odds of 23-1 to post a maiden Group 1 victory in last year's Darley Prix Jean Romanet and proved that effort was no fluke when just pipped by eventual €3-million December sales-topper Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera ahead of a bold fifth-place effort behind Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup.
Purchased at last year's December sale by agent Anne-Sophie Yoh on behalf of owner Xavier Marie's Haras de Hus, Grand Glory has trained on nicely this season at six, topped by a popular success in the G3 Prix Allez France at ParisLongchamp in May. A sound third to State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in June, Grand Glory was fourth in the G1 Prix Vermeille Sept. 11 and a latest fifth to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Oct. 2 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She is currently being prepared for a return engagement in the Japan Cup at the end of November.
“In the beginning, Mr. Marie wished to start breeding, so we bought mares with exceptional pedigrees, including Grand Glory,” explained Yoh. “However, this purchase also enabled him to discover more about life as an owner, and he has enjoyed it so much that he has decided to concentrate on this. For this reason, Grand Glory will go under the hammer as a broodmare prospect. She will be offered by [her trainer] Gianluca Bietolini and his team, which seems a fitting next step for this incredible mare.”
Preliminary competition in all ten offered disciplines at the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is now complete and the stage is set for Saturday's Finale Championship.
This year marks a new format for preliminary and Finale competition: the five top-placed horses in each discipline will proceed to the Finale, but will start on a fresh score, rather than combine scores with preliminary marks. Preliminary placings for the top 10 in each discipline overall as well as in the amateur, junior and team divisions will be awarded on Friday evening at the return of the Awards Party. Special awards, sponsored by state breeder associations and private individuals, will also be awarded at this time.
The Thoroughbred Makeover continues on Friday with the TERF Makeover Master Class, featuring polo professional Jorge Vasquez working with participants through flat work exercises to introduce green horses to the sport of polo. The Master Class will livestream for free at TheRRP.org/livestream starting at 9:00 AM. The Makeover Seminar Series, sponsored by TheHorse.com, begins at noon with webinar format available for free at TheRRP.org/seminars.
Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) Championships kick off on Friday and run through Saturday in western disciplines plus dressage. Learn more at tjctip.com.
Let's get to know the preliminary winners of each discipline. Full results and scores for all disciplines can be found at TheRRP.org/makeover-results.
Not Gonna Happen and Brooke Frederick
Barrel Racing: Not Gonna Happen and Brooke Frederick Commissioner – No Fun, by Denman (AUS)
2019 gelding bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Unraced
Not Gonna Happen might not be Brooke Frederick's first Thoroughbred she's retrained, but he's her first Makeover horse. Encouraged by her sister Jessica, who won the 2021 Barrel Racing discipline at that year's Thoroughbred Makeover, Frederick entered the unraced gelding. While he was initially intended to be a resale project, he'll be part of her family now for the foreseeable future. After a solid horsemanship test, Not Gonna Happen ran the second fastest time on Wednesday and the fastest time on Thursday.
“I'm really proud and happy to have him,” said Frederick, a professional from Magnolia, KY. “He wants to work. He wants a job. He takes everything with such grace and pride, and he's been so easy. He was loping the barrel pattern within two weeks.”
Diggin For Dough and Toni Harmon
Competitive Trail: Diggin For Dough and Toni Harmon Teuflesberg – All Bronze, by Desert Warrior
2018 mare bred in New York by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC
11-0-0-1, $9,961
Makeover veteran Toni Harmon, an adult amateur from Harvard, IL, has a strong history in both the Competitive Trail and Ranch Work disciplines, though her Ranch Work performance on Wednesday with Diggin For Dough did not go as planned. What impressed Harmon the most, however, was how confidently Diggin For Dough moved forward and came back for Thursday's Competitive Trail performance, laying down a confident performance to win the discipline.
“She's sensitive, but she's super brave and willing,” said Harmon. “There were things on the course she and I had never seen before, but she did everything so well. She is such a trier — we haven't been able to practice any water and she went right through. She's like all of the Thoroughbreds I've had: just so special. I never want any other kind of horse.”
Buckeye Warrior and Holly Zecchin
Dressage: Buckeye Warrior and Holly Zecchin Majestic Warrior – Hap Cat, by Van Nistelrooy
2016 gelding bred in Ohio by Robert A. Reeves
18-2-0-4, $43,819
Initially looking for a resale project, Holly Zecchin, a professional from Metamora, MI, scrolled past Buckeye Warrior's listing through New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program when she was looking for horses; the gelding was rehabbing from a fractured tibia. Something drew her to the horse, however, and just a few days later, she picked him up, having never even seen a trot video. Whatever intuition guided Zecchin to Buckeye Warrior proved sound when the pair laid down a series of impressive tests in the Rolex Arena on Wednesday.
“He's just a fabulous individual,” said Zecchin. “I can't express how sweet and trainable and wonderful this horse is. He rises to every occasion — I've never had a horse like him. I've had wonderful horses but this guy tries so hard and never puts a foot wrong.”
Sapphire Surprize and Cynthia Faherty Napravnik
Eventing: Sapphire Surprize and Cynthia Faherty Napravnik Weigelia – Leroys Jewel, by Leroidesanimeaux (BRZ)
2018 mare bred in Pennsylvania by Jean Mary Walter
Unraced
Family traditions run a little bit different in the Napravnik family: Rosie won the discipline in 2019, Jazz won it in 2020, and now Cynthia Faherty Napravnik, a professional from Monkton, MD, has won the preliminary eventing in 2022. With strong performances in all three phases, Faherty Napravnik piloted Jean Walter's Sapphire Surprize to the preliminary victory.
“Jean Walter is a wonderful lady and a very good horsewoman,” said Faherty Napravnik. “Sapphire Surprize is super smart and super scopey. She has just gotten better and better, and I'm just so proud of how she's turned out. I had hip surgery this year, and I was out for a couple of months, so when I came back we got strong together. She's a great horse to train — I can't ask for more from a horse in training for just a few months.”
Lucian and Jazz Napravnik
Field Hunter: Lucian and Jazz Napravnik The Factor – Miss Pavarotti, by Pavarotti
2018 gelding bred in Maryland by Dr. & Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau
10-1-1-0, $29,313
Jazz Napravnik and Lucian's commanding lead to clinch the Field Hunter preliminary win belies the fact that it's a miracle Lucian is here at all: one year ago, he was in the ICU at New Bolton Center fighting an intestinal infection, followed by a bout of laminitis. His owners, the Horneffers, were firmly in the horse's corner, refusing to give up on him — “they knew how special he was,” said Napravnik. Rehabilitation took a long time, but his training for the Makeover started in earnest in May.
“It's not only that he's here with us,” Napravnik, a professional from Monkton, Md., continued. “But that he's here at the Makeover, and to win this discipline is incredible. He absolutely deserves it. He's a unicorn horse.”
Supreme Irene and Monique Cameron
Freestyle: Supreme Irene and Monique Cameron Intidab – Kissesforcaroline, by Five Star Day
2017 mare bred in Wisconsin by Don L. Redden
15-0-2-1, $9,800
Performing a Wizard of Oz-themed routine, Monique Cameron, a professional from Hackett, AR, and Supreme Irene charmed both the audience and the judges to claim the preliminary win.
Cameron was unavailable for comment at press time.
Yireh and Courtney Asdourian (catch ridden by Esteban Matuz)
Polo: Yireh and Courtney Asdourian (catch ridden by Esteban Matuz) Well Noted – Physical Delivery, by Majestic Warrior
2018 mare bred in New York by Angel Montanez
2-0-0-0, $675
Courtney Asdourian, a professional from Baltimore, MD, started Yireh for the Thoroughbred Makeover early in the year and continued to develop the mare's training until Asdourian's pregnancy forced her to find a catch rider. She reached out to fellow polo trainer Esteban Matuz to take over the ride.
“The horse is very natural and has everything she needs to develop into a great polo horse,” said Matuz through an interpreter. “She has a great mind and moves fluidly. I'd like to thank Courtney for allowing me to show her.”
Dont Ask Kinmon and Alice Beckman
Ranch Work: Dont Ask Kinmon and Alice Beckman Skylord – Trigger Fish Lane, by Petionville
2017 gelding bred in Indiana by Scott Arnold
19-3-3-3, $67,700, stakes placed
A lifelong sport horse rider who worked her way into the racing industry, Alice Beckman, a professional from Dry Ridge, Ky., has the unique position of having started her Makeover mount when he was just embarking on his racing journey — and then piloting him to two of his wins as his jockey for his last seven starts. She and Dont Ask Kinmon are now embarking on Beckman's first Thoroughbred Makeover and entered the Ranch Work as an opportunity to grow and learn; the pair also competed in Dressage.
“Honestly, I didn't expect this at all,” said Beckman of the pair's preliminary win in Ranch Work. “I've never ridden western before and it was a learning process for me and the horse, and I just wanted to have fun with it. I wanted to come and give him a good learning experience — this is more than I was expecting for my first Makeover!”
Racing Ace and Amanda Gomez
Show Hunter: Racing Ace and Amanda Gomez Upstart – Remembermefondley, by Van Nistelrooy
2018 gelding bred in Kentucky by John R. Penn
5-0-0-0, $2,540
Amanda Gomez made her last trip to the Thoroughbred Makeover in 2017 when she was still a junior. Now returning as a young professional from Norco, CA, she laid down two beautiful trips in the Stonelea Ring with Racing Ace to take a commanding lead in the Show Hunter discipline in the very first division on Wednesday morning.
“I've had him for about eight months now,” said Gomez of Racing Ace, who last raced in February of this year. “When he came off the track, he was just special — so quiet and so easy. I knew from that moment from that first ride that he was going to be really, really nice. I've taken the time slowly to put a good foundation on him and he's coming along so well. This is actually his first show ever — but he showed up and let everyone know what he's made of!”
Union Charm and Alyssa Kelly
Show Jumper: Union Charm and Alyssa Kelly Union Rags – Sadler's Charm, by Honour and Glory
2016 gelding bred in Kentucky by Castlepark Farm, LLC, John Karakourtis & AF Thoroughbreds
7-0-1-0, $6,730
Adult amateur Alyssa Kelly of Eldersburg, Maryland is making the most of her trip to Kentucky with Union Charm: not only did the pair win the preliminary round in the Show Jumper, but they're also entered in dressage in the Thoroughbred Incentive Program Central Region Dressage Championships later this week. That cross-training has been key to his success, said Kelly.
“It really helped for the format of this competition that we've done a lot of dressage for his flatwork,” said Kelly, referring to the portion of the Show Jumper discipline that tests each horse's flatwork training. “He has a nice even canter and he's super careful; he fixes my mistakes and helps me out! He's always been game for just about anything we throw at him, whether it's a hunter show or dressage or show jumpers. He has a good personality to go with the flow.”
A total of 11 stallions will stand at Darley's Jonabell Farm in 2023, including two new additions: G1 winners Speaker's Corner and Mystic Guide. Fee and retirement plans for G1 Forego winner and future Darley stallion Cody's Wish will be made after the Breeders' Cup.
Darley Sales Manager, Darren Fox, said, “We've been very fortunate in the last two years to have produced five high-level performers and it's even more gratifying that they are all homebreds. Following last year's retirement of Essential Quality and Maxfield, to again be able to add more top-caliber horses is very, very exciting.”
Speaker's Corner retires as the fastest son of Street Sense with a top Beyer Speed Figure of 114. Bred along the same cross as fellow Darley stallion Maxfield, he is out of the Bernardini mare Tyburn Brook, a daughter of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Round Pond. As a juvenile, he won an especially hot maiden race at Belmont that featured five future Stakes winners, including Graded winners Greatest Honour and Bourbonic, plus Arkansas Derby runner-up Caddo River.
At three, he posted three of his seven career triple-digit Beyers, including a 109 at Belmont which equaled the top Beyer earned last year by all three 2021 Eclipse Champion three-year-old male finalists: Life is Good, Essential Quality and Medina Spirit.
At four, he won his first three starts, all Graded Stakes, including the G1 Carter Handicap where he registered a 114 Beyer. Only Flightline has recorded a higher number in the past three years. Speaker's Corner also notched victories in the G2 Gulfstream Park Mile and the G3 Fred W. Hooper. He will enter his first season at stud at a fee of $20,000.
2021 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide, whose retirement was announced earlier this year, will stand at a fee of $15,000 in 2023. Mystic Guide's four career victories also included the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes as a three-year-old, a race also won by current Darley stallions Medaglia d'Oro, Street Sense and Essential Quality.
Trained by Mike Stidham, Mystic Guide was never off the board in nine career starts. He served notice that he was prepared to take on the world's best in Meydan's signature $12,000,000 race when annexing the G3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn by six lengths while posting a 108 Beyer. Following his victory in Dubai, Mystic Guide was rated number one on both the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings and the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll.
Fox went on to say, “Optimism abounds currently in the Thoroughbred industry. The sales are strong, purses are strong, and close to home, we experienced unprecedented demand during the 2022 booking season. With all these positives, only one of our stallions will see a fee increase for 2023 and that's Midshipman, who continues to go from strength to strength in his stud career.”
Medaglia d'Oro's stud fee will be $100,000 for the second year in a row. He continues to produce runners at the highest level and is the sire of 22 Graded Stakes horses in 2022. Only Into Mischief has sired more this year. Medaglia d'Oro's top performers this year include Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty, now a winner of 21 of 24 career starts (and nearly $15 million in prize money), including six G1 victories.
Medaglia d'Oro remains poised to continue this success next year as his 2023 crop of juveniles is his best-bred crop ever. In the sales ring, his progeny once again attracted the attention of buyers exemplified by seven-figure offerings at the yearling and two-year-old sales in 2022.
The ultra-consistent Midshipman will see his fee rise to $20,000 for 2022. A perennial source of Stakes horses, his tally in this category is no fewer than 19 for 2022 and his 16% career Black Type horses to runners is among the best in the business. In fact, no stallion under $60k can top it.
Eclipse Champion Essential Quality and multiple G1 winner Maxfield will remain at $75,000 and $40,000 respectively for their second years at stud following full first-year books in 2022. Linchpin stallion Street Sense will also remain at $75,000 following yet another successful year both on the track and at the sales.
See below for the complete 2023 Jonabell Farm roster:
