Avontuur’s highly successful resident stallion Oratorio totally dominated proceedings in Saturday’s G1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville.
The triple G1 winning son of Danehill had a trio of runners in the R750 000 2yo feature, with his sons Van Halen and Cue The Music duly running 1-2 in the Medallion.

Trained by Tobie Spies, the gelded Van Halen ran on powerfully to down favourite, and recent G3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner, Cue The Music by a neck –to give Oratorio a memorable 1-2 finish in the 2018 Gold Medallion.

In the process, Oratorio sons took home R618 750 in prize money!

Bred by Limpo Retail, Van Halen had been second last time out, to Cue The Music, in the G3 Godolphin Barb, and Saturday’s victory, his second in seven outings, took his earnings to R601 125 with his first G1 win.

Out of the Lecture mare Rock Concert, Van Halen, a first South African G1 winner for Oratorio, was a bargain R100 000 buy from the 2017 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

A multiple champion overseas, Oratorio has now eight individual G1 winners to his credit –and is responsible for more than 50 black type winners. His other notable performers include champions Military Attack, Cherry Collect, Banchee, and Biz The Nurse.

A dual champion sire in Italy, Oratorio is also now making his mark as a broodmare sire, and is damsire of recent high class stakes winners Paquirri (G3 Kindergarten Stakes) and likely Royal Ascot hope Servalan.

Oratorio has enjoyed a magnificent season with his 2yos in South Africa this season, with other notable juveniles by the champion including G3 performer Cloud Break, G3 Strelitzia Stakes third Petra and Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery winner Carlita.

Previous star 2yos by the sire include G1 winners Banchee and Beethoven, as well as Dewhurst Stakes runner up and Cape sire Fencing Master.

Oratorio has a single lot on offer at the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale –a half-sister to G1 contender Mazari (Lot 204), this filly is from the same family as champions Jay Peg and Kochka.