Cohen Battles for $1.75m Medaglia d'Oro half-brother to Drefong

Rancho Temescal's Tim Cohen and Red Baron's Barn prevailed in the spirited bidding for a colt by Medaglia d'Oro on the second day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, going to $1.75 million to acquire the half brother to Eclipse champion sprinter Drefong.

Tim Cohen signed the sales slip for the colt purchased in partnership with his father, Jed Cohen of Red Baron's Barn.

"It was crazy in there, certainly spent a little more than we wanted to go, but Jeff [Mullins], Mark [Glatt], and Joe [Miller] - we all agreed he was a standout colt," Cohen said. "I talked to my dad [Jed] and said, 'Hey, there is a special one.' I didn't tell him how far I had to go… but he will find out pretty soon."

Upon first impression, Cohen noted the colt was mature. "Wow, he looks like a three-year-old, breezed as a two-year-old, and wasn't asked too much, which is helpful. Being such a big colt and going that quickly without being asked was significant.

"With all the information we had and everyone who took good hard looks on our behalf, it was a special opportunity and we were fortunate enough to get him. He will go to Mark Glatt in California, and we will hope for the best from here."

Bred in Kentucky by Craig and Carrie Brogden's Machmer Hall out of the unraced Ghostzapper mare Eltimaas, the colt worked in :10 1/5 during the sale's under tack show. Eltimaas was picked up by the Brogdens at the 2013 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $77,000.

Eltimaas is a half sister to 2003 champion two-year-old male and sire Action This Day, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

According to consignor Nick de Meric, hip 401 had a certain air about him. He was a $325,000 purchase by the consignor from last season's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Machmer Hall Sales.

"He is just an exceptional colt. Tristan and Valerie [de Meric] have had him in their division all year, and they have done a marvellous job with him," de Meric said.

"This colt breathes different air. You see him up here; he's just so cool. He has the class, temperament, physique, and the pedigree to be any kind. I think he was recognised as such. He's been one of the horses you dream of having in the barn. He made our job easy."

Co-breeder Carrie Brogden was on hand to congratulate Cohen on the purchase and looks forward to seeing the colt on the West Coast.

"Good people in this industry you have to support; they do it the right way, and we certainly take care of our horses and we like to buy from people who do the same," Cohen commented.

$1.3m Mendelssohn colt tops Japan-bound duo

Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida captured the day's second seven-figure juvenile when he went to $1.3 million for a chestnut colt by Ashford Stud's freshman sire Mendelssohn. The colt was consigned as hip 490 by Scanlon Training and Sales, agent.

Nakauchida, who worked for Bobby Scanlon for 19 years before turning to training full-time in Japan, secured two horses for an undisclosed client on Wednesday.

On the Mendelssohn colt, he commented: "He breezed very nicely; his action was massive and dynamic during the breeze show. Physically he is strong and a beautiful horse."

Bred in Kentucky by Marcus Stables, the colt is out of the Malibu Moon daughter Grace Is Gone, who is out of Grade 1-placed winner and stakes producer Grace Anatomy, by Aldebaran. The colt's tail-female line includes Grade 1 winner Plenty of Grace, a half sister to US champion grass mare and millionaire Soaring Softly .

David Scanlon plucked the leggy colt out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale for $235,000 from Northview Stallion Station.

"He was a bit immature when we brought him in," Scanlon said. "We took our time with him, and he started developing for us. He did everything right; he's just a dream. The colt is the entire package."

Scanlon was quick to share the accolades, saying: "I have to credit my partners on the horse, Gabriel 'Spider' Duignan and Bruno DeBerdt. I called them when I found the horse [as a yearling], and they supported me. We took a chance. It was a lot for us to spend on him, but he had a beautiful frame and a great walk. He has a beautiful demeanour about him, and I love the sire. I think Mendelssohn is going to be a hit."

Nakauchida also secured hip 466, a son of Spendthrift's sought-after sire Into Mischief for $825,000. The colt consigned by de Meric Sales sped an eighth in a rapid :10 flat during the under tack preview.

"I liked his breeze," said Nakauchida. "I think he has plenty of speed. He is very athletic and he's light, and I think he will go better in Japan."

The colt is produced from the stakes-placed and stakes-producing More Than Ready mare Game for More, making him a half brother to multiple Graded stakes winner Isotherm and Grade 1-placed runners Gio Game and Giant Game.

"These horses will ship to Japan and be under my care and hopefully will win a few races, and hopefully, if we get lucky, you will see them on the international stage."

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