CONFORMATION

“I thought he was the best turned out yearling in the sale,” said Barry Irwin. “His consignor is not well known, but this German-born breeder did a marvelous job in presenting this fellow.

“A rich chestnut in color, Golden Idol has that unmistakable presence of a good horse. He has great posture and he walks boldly forward.

“The colt has great bone, a fantastic body and the general look of a mature animal.”

PEDIGREE

Click here for pedigree of Hip 6 - Golden Idol

SIRE - Rich Man's Gold

Richman’s Gold died last year in South Africa after siring a few crops. In an abbreviated career, this son of Forty Niner (by Mr. Prospector) ran second in the Grade 3 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park before entering stud in Chile, where he became the leading Freshman sire.

Among those he sired in Chile were subsequent North American imports Lido Place, who won the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes twice and the Grade 1 Whitney in New York en route to earnings of more than $2 million, and Isola Piu Bella, a Todd Pletcher-trained filly who has improved on her Horse of the Year status in Chile to become a multiple Graded stakes winner in North America.

Last year in his first South African crop, he was represented by Kildonan, whom Mike de Kock campaigned to vie for championship honors at 2 vs. Fearless.

Rich Man’s Gold stood for de Kock’s premier client Mary Slack, whose mother stands Fort Wood and raced Horse Chestnut.

FAMILY

Golden Idol is closely related to the current 3-year-old filly Western Ade, who is from the same Mr. Prospector sire line.

First dam Light Fandango was a stakes winner at 2 and multiple Graded stakes-placed in a career that saw her win 5 times and place 23 times.

Light Fandango is among 3 stakes winners foaled by her dam, the others being 12-time winner and Graded winner Ghostly Galleon, and former Team Valor runner Come to Light, a stakes winner and oft Graded stakes-placed runner.

BROODMARE SIRE - Cordoba

Cordoba was a sensation when he first appeared on a race course in Britain, where his bubble burst when he was third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Exported to North America, he ran third in the Spend a Buck Stakes before being sold to stand stud in South Africa.

At stud, this son of Irish Derby winner El Gran Senor is best known as the sire of Cordo Celli, a 16-time winner and Champion Sprinter in South Africa.

NOTES

Barry Irwin said “He was way too impressive to pass up. I wanted to buy only one colt, wasn’t sure I’d have enough fire power to land hip 84, so I bought this one early to make sure I got at least one top colt. If I had missed out on 84, I would have been very satisfied to walk away from the sale with only this guy. His price, in retrospect, was bargain basement. If I saw this colt at Keeneland, he would have been in the same price range as Knight’s Blade, who we gave $525,000 for.

Golden Idol is having his name changed from Golden Fandango.

TRAINER

Mike de Kock will train.

This season, South Africa’s most successful trainer sent out $58,000 National Yearling Sale graduate Little Miss Magic to win the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein.

The most successful international trainer in the history of South Africa, de Kock pioneered the way North and East for his nation, winning important races in Dubai with Victory Moon, Asiatic Boy and Ipi Tombe, and in Hong Kong with Irridescence.

He vies annually with Geoff Woodruff for the title of leading trainer, even though he spends much time abroad.

Mike showed the quality of his judgment and ability when he brought Horse Chestnut to the United States. Less than 90 days after clearing quarantine, the son of Fort Wood raced on dirt for the first time, winning a Graded event at Gulfstream Park in the manner of a top horse. A bowed tendon ended the dream of a championship campaign for a colt generally recognized to be the greatest athlete in South African racing history.