Medaglia d'Oro, Marquetry, Doneraile Court to Launch Stonewall Stallion Division

Edited press release and staff reports
Audrey Haisfield (NeverTell Farm) and John Sikura (Hill 'n' Dale Farm) announced today that NeverTell stallions Medaglia d'Oro  , Doneraile Court, and Marquetry are being relocated to Haisfield's Stonewall Farm near Midway, Ky., where they will stand the 2006 breeding season. The three stallions are expected to move prior to the Keeneland November Sale.

"Hill 'n' Dale has done an outstanding job for us and given great care to our horses," said Haisfield.

"We are parting on good terms," said Sikura. "An orderly transition will be our focus. We will continue to help with the stallions and their relocation, and we wish Audrey good luck in the future. "The horses enjoyed great success at Hill 'n' Dale, and they bred a lot of mares, a lot of good mares. They leave with full books, in great health and in good condition, and with a real foundation for success."

"I am very excited to launch a stallion operation, and I just feel it is the right time to realize my dream of standing these stallions," said Haisfield. "Although, it is a tremendous undertaking to start an operation like this from scratch, Stonewall Farm Stallions has the advantage of having a foundation of top class stallions.

Bert Welker, who managed Damara Farm near Lexington for about 10 years and most recently ran a boarding and sales operation with his wife, Mickey, will oversee the stallion operation.

Haisfield bought 179-acre Gaillardia for $4.5 million from Mary Gaylord McClean in early 2004 and renamed the farm NeverTell. It was McClean's brother, E.K. Gaylord, who purchased the property in 2001 when it was Stonewall Farm, then refurbished it and sold it to his sister.

Audrey and Richard Haisfield bought Medaglia d'Oro   at the conclusion of his racing career in 2004, and are part owners in both Doneraile Court and Marquetry.

The 2005 season was Medaglia d'Or'os first at stud. A 6-year-old son of El Prado, Medaglia d'Oro   ran first or second in 15 of 17 starts and was a grade I winner three consecutive years. He won the Travers Stakes (gr. I) and Whitney (gr. I) and Donn (gr. I) Handicaps, plus four grade II events, on the way to earning $5,754,720. Medaglia d'Oro  , produced from the Bailjumper mare Cappucino Bay, stood this year for $35,000.

Marquetry, who stood at Vinery before his 2005 stint at Hill 'n' Dale, has sired 22 stakes winners and the earners of $25.9 million. Nineteen-year-old Marquetry has sired a pair of multiple grade I winners in Artax and Squirtle Squirt, both champions who won the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). Marquetry (Conquistador Cielo--Regent's Walk, by Vice Regent) stood in 2005 for $7,500.

Grade II winner Doneraile Court, who stood the past two years at Hill 'n' Dale, ranks 12th on the leading third-crop sire list by lifetime progeny earnings, with $3.5 million and has $1 million in progeny earnings this year. His six stakes winners are led by Norfolk Stakes (gr. II) winner Ruler's Court. Nine-year-old Doneraile Court (Seattle Slew--Sophisticated Girl, by Stop the Music) stood in 2005 for $15,000.