Australian champion 2-year-old and 'TDN Rising Star' Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), a winner of the G1 Golden Slipper last March for an ownership group headed by Coolmore and the China Horse Club among others, left the yard of Gai Waterhouse to enter quarantine and be trained by Irish maestro Aidan O'Brien in Ireland, with Royal Ascot the long-term goal, Coolmore said in a release on their website.
“He's an incredibly talented horse and, with the Autumn falling so early this year and Royal Ascot an important goal in June, we decided in consultation with managing owner Coolmore that it would be best to send him to Ireland to give Aidan O'Brien the necessary time to prepare,” said Waterhouse, who trained the colt up to this point. “As an unbeaten champion 2-year-old and winner of the Golden Slipper, he has nothing more to prove in Australia; I have no doubt that he is world-class and this plan gives him the best opportunity of proving himself on the international stage, with a view to possible dual-hemisphere stud duties.”
Added Waterhouse, “We'll obviously be sad to see him go and I'm sure Aidan will have a lot of fun with him–Coolmore has followed this route very successfully in the past with So You Think (NZ), Starspangledbanner (Aus), Haradasun (Aus) and others and I wish Aidan every success with a horse I consider as talented as any.”
Vancouver earned 'Rising Star' status taking the NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Plate in October of 2014, before following up with tallies in the G3 Canonbury S. at Rosehill
Jan. 31 and G2 Todman S. over 1200 meters at Randwick Mar. 7 one start prior to the Slipper.
Vancouver shed his unbeaten status with a fourth-place finish in the G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill Aug. 15 and was duly spelled. The strapping dark bay most recently finished third in a Rosehill barrier trial over 1030 meters Sept. 1.
Added Coolmore's Tom Magnier, “Circumstances have forced our hand with Vancouver to an extent, but Gai is adamant that he's a Royal Ascot horse and that's where we'll be aiming him. “I've spoken to Aidan and Joseph and they can't wait for the horse to arrive. Gai and her team have done a wonderful job with him, as evidenced by his unforgettable 2-year-old season and let's hope he does them proud on his travels.”
A Pierro (Aus) half-brother to Vancouver sold for A$1.5 million on the bid of Tom Magnier at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Jan. 8.
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