David Hall has some promising young talents in his barn and Medallist is certainly one of them.
The three-year-old was given an easy time of things in three trials by Brett Prebble and an Australian jump-out when second behind Secret Hills, who has since gone on to win twice and was second in the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
Medallist was well-punted from $82 to $55 at the jump in the Class Four Pui O Handicap (1,200m) on Sunday at Sha Tin.
He was slow out of the gates, but travelled nicely throughout and was closing the gap to go under by 33/4 lengths to the runaway winner Solar Great, clocking 22.72 seconds for the final 400m.
He is a well-bred son of Danehill stallion Exceed And Excel, an exciting sprinter who won the Group One Newmarket Handicap and Group One Dubai Racing Club Stakes among seven successes up to 1,400m and the sire of 10 winners from 21 local starters, including Bullish Champion, Exceptional Art, Pretty One, Shibala and Lucky Record this season.
The colt is also the fourth foal of the unraced Peintre Celebre mare Morning Dews, who has had two other starters in Daybreak Command - a 1,800m winner by Commands - and Sutton Power, a placed performer by Testa Rossa.
His dam Morning Dews is a half-sister to Allez France, who won the listed AJC Keith Mackay Handicap (1,200m). Further down the pedigree tree is the smart broodmare Valour, the grand-dam of Group One STC Golden Slipper Stakes winner Burst.