THERE is something of a vibe this week in Breeding Insights, and readers might feel that it is all about Jim Bolger. His name keeps popping up on the pages, but with good reason. He is again to the fore in the review of the pedigree of the Hong Kong Derby winner Golden Sixty, a horse about whom we will hear a lot more in the future – hopefully on the greater international stage too.

With his win in the Listed Hong Kong Derby and clean sweep of the classic series, the four-year-old brought his race record to 10 wins in 11 starts, amassing just over £2.9 million in earnings. The Medaglia D’Oro (El Prado) gelding emulated the brilliant Rapper Dragon by becoming just the second runner to sweep the classic series, the latter having done so in 2017.

In his first season he suffered defeat on the last of four starts, while he has an unblemished record this season. His blacktype victories also include the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup, the Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile and the Listed Hong Kong Classic Cup.

The son of Medaglia D’Oro is the best of four winning progeny of Gaudeamus, a daughter of Distorted Humor (Forty Niner) who was purchased as a yearling at Keeneland in 2005 for $60,000 and joined Jim Bolger’s string at Coolcullen. From there she raced in the colours of Jackie Bolger who owned her in partnership with John Corcoran. All her wins came at two, a debut victory at Naas followed by wins in the Listed Woodpark and Ballysheehan Studs Stakes at the Curragh and the Group 2 Robert H Griffin Debutante Stakes at Leopardstown.

Gaudeamus was sold to go to Australia, and Golden Sixty is her sixth foal. She is dam of five winners from seven runners and the rest include the Listed Tasmanian Derby-third Igitur (Helmet). Having sold as a yearling for A$120,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, Golden Sixty went through the ring again as a two-year-old in New Zealand where he made NZ$300,000 to the bid of his current trainer Francis Lui. Golden Sixty was bred by Asco International Pty Ltd in Queensland.

Medaglia D’Oro turned 21 this year and commands $200,000 at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky. His 25 Grade 1 winners include star mares Rachel Alexandra and Songbird, Golden Slipper champion Vancouver and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Talismanic. Medaglia D’Oro was trained by Bobby Frankel with a record of eight wins and seven seconds in 17 starts, his successes including the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap and Donn Handicap (now the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes).

Gaudeamus is the only stakes winner among seven winning progeny from the stakes-placed American runner Leo’s Lucky Lady (Seattle Slew). One who earned blacktype was Leo’s Luckyman (Woodman), trained by Mark Johnston, and his best effort was probably when third behind Dubai Destination and Rock Of Gibraltar in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at two. His own-sister Seattle’s Wood bred the top Danish runner Falconet (Falco), winner of the Listed Dansk Pokallob three times, while she is grandam of the Group 3 Italian St Leger winner O’Juke (Jukebox Jury).

Leo’s Lucky Lady is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Korveya (Riverman), dam of the Group 1 winners Hector Protector (Woodman), Bosra Sham (Woodman) and Shanghai (Procida).