MAISON D'OR. 15 February 2014 Galileo-Thai Haku. Owner-Darrel Lees.
Maison D'Or is bred to be a high class Group performer, being by Galileo out of a Group 2 placed mare trained in France by M. Delzangles. His full sister Sarrocchi finished her racing career by winning a listed mares event over a mile at Naas for trainer Aiden O'Brien in 2018.
Maison D'Or was a late developer so didn't begin his racing career until he was a three year old, starting out in the French provenience's in a one mile five furlong maiden under the tutor ledge of Andre Fabre, and after two placed efforts from three runs he was transferred to Robert Collet. After three more runs producing two more placed efforts both at Deauville over one mile and seven furlongs he was sent hurdling.
It was on his forth run over hurdles on Christmas Eve 2017 that he finally found his form, finishing second in a juvenile hurdle.He failed to build on that In one subsequent hurdle race, and returned to the flat for the rest of his French Career, failing to get involved over middle distances.
He arrived at Oakwood Stables in the Spring of 2019 and we wasted no time in putting him back over hurdles. He ran twice over inadequate trips on ground too fast at Cartmel before being given a short break. He returned at Kelso for his handicap debut in October, and that race put him spot on, because on his next run at Catterick, off a much reduced handicap mark of 98 and with the very capable Emma Smith-Chaston taking off a further eight pounds, he won by two lengths from the Jonjo O'Neil trained Oathkeeper.
Maison D'Or may have been bred to win a Group race over a mile, but it appears he has a preference for three miles and soft ground, so if he can win us a few up North, that will do nicely.