Gilded Time (Timeless Moment–Gilded Lily, by What a Pleasure), 1992's champion 2-year-old colt and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, died last week due to the infirmities of old age. He was 31. The news was announced by Alberta, Canada's Bar None Ranches Dec. 7 and first reported by BloodHorse.
After spending the first 14 years of his stud career in Kentucky while also shuttling to the Southern Hemisphere, Gilded Time stood his final few seasons at Bar None. His Grade I-winning son Gayego currently stands at the same farm.
“He was already a world traveler [when he came to Bar None ahead of the 2008 season]; having successfully shuttled to Australia and Brazil for multiple seasons,” said Bar None's facebook post. “He settled in quickly to his new role as 'King of the Farm,' and undeniably raised the bar for stallions in not only Alberta but for Western Canada as well. He gave us many exciting winners to cheer for, including the great homebred Silver Baubles.
“As a pensioned horse, Gilded Time enjoyed his retirement, with every want and whim catered to by breeding manager Shaun Rathy. Even in his twilight years, he was known for his sprints and bucking performances upon being turned out into his paddock, where he was able to watch each year's new foal crop and oversee the other horses from 'his hill'. He will be greatly missed by Rathy, her team, and the entire Bar None Ranches family.”
Bred by Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. and sold for $80,000 at OBS's Select Florida-bred Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Gilded Time was trained by Darrell Vienna for Milch, Silverman, Silverman, et al. He won his first four starts, including the GII Sapling S. and GII Arlington-Washington Futurity before defeating a field that included future GI Kentucky Derby hero Sea Hero at the Breeders' Cup as a 2-1 favorite. The chestnut made just two more starts after that, finishing third in the following year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and sixth in the GI Malibu S.
Originally retired to Vinery, Gilded Time sired 66 black-type winners (22 of them graded), including seven highest-level winners–three in the U.S., three in South America and one in Australia. His progeny racked up more than $60.2 million in career earnings.
Gilded Time also made his mark as a broodmare sire, producing the dams of 75 black-type winners including another 22 graded scorers. He was the broodmare sire of eight Grade I/Group 1 winners, including Shaman Ghost, Audible and On Fire Baby.
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