HONG KONG, CHINA – Follow this, if you want.
A filly horse bred in America and purchased for a very reasonable sum as a colt was exported to Ireland, punched above his weight at the races and sold to Australia for his career its second. A few years after her arrival, she was covered there by a successful Northern Hemisphere shuttle stallion, made trips through the Australian and New Zealand sales circuit and went on to become the go-to filly for best ever looked over the bridle in Hong Kong.
The world of chicken breeders really is a small place, isn't it?
Most people pursue a career of Sixty Gold (Australia) (Medaglia d'Oro), who could be the final step in a history-making career in Sunday's G1 FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin Raceway. Few people know that his dam Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor), bred in Kentucky by Manganaro LLC, was bred throughout her early career by the legendary Jim Bolger, who acquired her Leo's Lady Luck's daughter is staked by herself. 1977 American Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew–for just $60,000 through Richard Galpin's Newmarket International dealership at the 2005 Keeneland September sale in Lexington.
“Well, first of all it's purely the pedigree,” Bolger explained earlier this week when asked what attracted him to the mare, whose sire was represented just two years ago by GI Kentucky Derby Funny Cide wins from first crop to race.
Indeed, there is much to recommend about this women's directory from a European perspective. Gaudeamus's dam Konafa (Damascus), the 1976 G1 One Thousand Guineas runner-up, who excelled in the breeding stable, succeeded Proskona (Mr Prospector), winner of group races in France and Italy; Keos (Riverman), a three-time group scorer and three-time Group 1 company in France as well as a Group 2 winner in Germany; and perhaps most significantly Korveya (Riverman), Group 3 winner in France and then Group 1 winner Bosra Sham (Forest, champion), Hector Protector (Forest, champion ) and Shanghai (Procida). Korveya would go on to top the November 1998 Keeneland sale with a then-record $7 million bid for Woodman.
“I had someone come look at her and the report was good, so we decided to go ahead with it,” Bolger said of Gaudeamus. “As they say, she ticks all the boxes and she is a very nice mare. She has almost everything. There's nothing you'd change about her. And she has a temperament that matches all the physical characteristics. We are satisfied with the price.”
Gaudeamus (Gow-day-AH-mus), loosely translated to mean 'let us rejoice,' is a quick study, Bolger says.
“Well, we got her down when she got home around October, and by January she was well-muscled and looking like someone who could come in early,” he explains . “If memory serves, we ran her in early May and she won the first time.”
Gaudeamus steered Kevin Manning to a one-length debut victory over 19 other opponents with six strides giving way at Naas in May 2006 and won a listed stakes haul of seven at the Curragh at the end of June. Fourth in the G3 Anglesey S. in her first attempt at group level, she defeated Dimenticata (Ire) (Danetime {Aus}) to reach a career high in the G2 Debutante S. at Leopardstown. The latter would finish runner-up to the Bolger-run Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr Greeley) in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas the following spring, with Gaudeamus down the field in eighth place at the start penultimate start of her career.
“I never really took her where I wanted to take her as a 3-year-old,” Bolger said. “She wasn't able to win as a 3-year-old, but we feel like she's done a lot as a 2-year-old.”
Take money off the table
A successful breeder as well as a trainer, Bolger could have easily kept Gaudeamus for his stud, but ultimately decided to let her go for 'purely financial' reasons.
“When you get tormented by billionaires every day, someone like me has to generate some revenue,” he reasoned.
After some back and forth, Bolger reached an agreement with Sheamus Mills, a young blood dealer from Australia. Mills said the mare's appeal was clear.
“I have always been a big fan of Distorted Humor because of the sire influence – in fact the whole Forty Niner sire line interests me,” Mills explains. “He has a good influence on the Australian market thanks to his fairly limited exposure. [as a shuttle stallion].
“Combine that with the fact that Gaudeamus is a Group 2-winning 2-year-old and she's a pretty obvious one for the Australian market, which loves speed and agility.”
And talk about making your mark. Gaudeamus was Mills' first buyer after going out on his own.
“I was ahead of my time because there was little interest in those days about potential racing imports – something that became so common soon after I returned to Australia,” Mills said.
Jim and Jackie Bolger | Racing photo
“Him,” Bolger recalls [Mills] just came to find her. We finally agreed on the price. I think it dragged on a bit, but it worked out in the end. And it certainly works in his favor, and I'm very happy for her.”
Bolger reports that the deal is done for €500,000 and he has every confidence that Gaudeamus can become a significant stallion.
“She is the ideal type,” he said. Like I said, you can't find fault with her. Her two-year-old racing record is good enough for any promising stallion.”
Gaudeamus was bred as Pivotal (GB) to the Southern Hemisphere before being exported to Australia. After producing the Listed Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}) from his first few foals, Gaudeamus was purchased by Josh Hutchins Bloodstock for A$160,000. ($123,776) at the 2015 Magic Millions National Stud Sale for colts Medaglia d'Oro. She was sold for A$75,000 at the same auction two years later, a decision that will be judged by the Australian bloodstock community once and for all in a month's time.
That's when Gaudeamus, takes on dual Group 1 winner Interior (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) (Lot 761), and she is full of desire Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 586) was auctioned as part of the Hutchins family's Element Hill unrestricted dispersal at Australia's Gold Coast National Broiler Show.
Golden Sixty took the pedigree even further, as he sold for A$120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before being sold again for NZ$300,000 at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Bloodstock Ready To Run of New Zealand in 2017, where he was purchased by his current owner. coach Francis Lui for boss Stanley Chan. Twenty-six wins, including 10 at Group 1 level, and $21 million in prize money later, it seemed the end was near.
Bolger, Mills lived vicariously
For his part, Bolger downplayed his role in the Golden Sixty career.
“It's not just me,” he said. “I'm always aware that when someone comes up with a good racehorse, there are probably hundreds of people involved over the years, and it turns out that for one of them it might not happen at that particular time. So whoever had a hand in creating or causing such an animal to be born in the first place had a huge role to play in it. That's the nature of business.”
Added Mills: “It has been exciting to watch Golden Sixty grow. The main feeling is nostalgia, because Jim Bolger made me work hard to get that deal done, and I will always be grateful to client Bob Scarborough for setting me on my path, because I think I down to the last 10 or 10 points. £20 on news of the deal being done!”
Bolger had the last word.
“Well, I'd say everyone did really well, both in Australia and Hong Kong. It is clear that they have managed the Golden Sixty excellently. That is no ordinary achievement.”
