Incoming Darley shuttler Medaglia d’Oro notched his first Group 1 of the year when Warrior’s Reward was a narrow winner of the Carter Hcp (1400m) at Aqueduct on Saturday.

Warrior’s Reward (4c Medaglia d’Oro – For All You Do by Seeking the Gold) rallied from the rear of the six-horse field to prevail by a nose over Musket Man (Yonaguska).

As a three year-old in 2009, Warrior’s Reward was placed in the Northern Dancer St (G3), Dwyer St (G2) and Jim Dandy St (G2).  He resumed this term with an allowance win at Gulfstream Park and the Carter victory boosted his record to 12-3-4-1 and his bank balance to $418,440.

Bred in Kentucky by Jayeff ‘B’ Stables, Warrior’s Reward was a $180,000 buy at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale.  He comes from the family of G1 winners Forest Flower (Green Forest) and High Yield (Storm Cat).

Medaglia d’Oro will begin shuttling to Darley’s Australian base this year.  He is the sire of US Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and is currently covering his first book at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for a US$100,000 fee.  He also covered 11 mares to southern hemisphere time at the Kentucky stud late last year.

Medaglia d’Oro is a son of Champion Kentucky based sire El Prado (Sadler’s Wells) and was a G1 winner of the Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap and Donn Handicap.

Darley will announce the service fees for its southern hemisphere stallions next week.