Milan sold for the equivalent of $1,122,440 at the 1999 Tattersalls Houghton yearling sale in England. Consigned by Ted Voute, he was purchased by Irish veterinarian Demi O'Byrne.
Milan is blessed with stamina on both sides of his pedigree.Kithanga, the dam of Milan, was a champion in England in 1994 at 14 furlongs and up. That year, she finished second in the Worthington Best Bitter Park Hill Stakes (Eng-III) and third in the Racing Post Godolphin Stakes. She also was third in the Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St. Leger (Ire-I). In 1993, the daughter of Darshaan captured the Castrol St. Simon Stakes (Eng-III) and Galtres Stakes. (Darshaan is the sire of Mutamam, another 2001 Turf candidate).Sadler's Wells, the sire of Milan, was a champion miler in France, but raced successfully at longer distances and was a classic winner in Ireland. Perennially ranked among the leading sires in Europe, Sadler's Wells has sired two winners of the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I): In the Wings in 1990 and Northern Spur in 1995. Barathea, a son of Sadler's Wells, scored in the 1994 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) . Sadler's Wells is the broodmare sire of 2001 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) winner Sakhee, who is scheduled to run in either the Turf or the Classic.