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12.
Derby Winner Galileo To Coolmore
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01/05/2002 |
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By:
Mark Smith
The decision by Coolmore to shuttle their Epsom Derby winner Galileo comes at a time when the credibility of Sadler’s Wells as a sire of sires has never been higher in Australia.
The success of Carnegie, Scenic and Barathea of late sees Coolmore add a second son of the 11-times champion European stallion to its Jerry’s Plains roster. And what a stallion prospect he is. The result of a union between two great racehorses, Galileo etched his name into history as the first son of Sadler’s Wells to win the time-honoured Epsom classic.
Those present at Leopardstown on October 28 2000 were left in no doubt they had witnessed something special when two-year old first starter Galileo cantered home 14 lengths clear of his 15 rivals over a mile. Trainer Aidan O’Brien stepped Galileo up to stakes class at his first start at three, again at Leopardstown. Starting 1/3 favourite in the 10 furlong Ballysax Stakes (LR) Galileo trotted up a 3-1/2 lengths winner of stablemate Milan (Sadler’s Wells) and Vinnie Row (Definite Article). Both the placegetters were later to prove Group 1 winners with Milan successful in the English St Leger (G1) before covering himself in glory with a fast finishing second to Fantastic light in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Galileo and Fantastic Light were to meet themselves later in a couple of memorable clashes. The Dermott Weld trained Vinnie Row saw plenty of Galileo’s rump early in his career but finished 2001 in a blaze of glory winning the Irish St Leger (G1) and Prix Royal Oak (G1).
Galileo won the Derristown Derby Trial as he prep race for Epsom, similar route to that taken by the previous years Derby winner Sinndar (Grand Lodge). It was the same result with Galieo strolling home 3-1/2 lengths clear of English 2,000 Guineas winner Golan (Spectrum), and Tobougg (Barathea), a dual Group 1 winner as a two-year-old.
It was on to the Curragh for the Irish Derby (G1) but the opposition could not get any closer to Galileo, a 4-lengths winner over Italian Derby (G1) winner and subsequent Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) winner Morshdi (Slip Anchor), and the hapless Golan a further 4-lengths away.
Galileo kept his unbeaten record intact with a 2-lengths win over the champion Fantastic Light in the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.
Five weeks later Fantastic Light gained his revenge, handing Galileo his first defeat in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1). The two champion stages a length of the straight battle with Fantastic Light getting the decision by a head.
Galileo’s final race start was something of an anticlimax. Obviously not relishing the dirt surface he finished a tame sixth behind Tiznow and Sakhee in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
Urban Sea, the dam of Galileo was an outstanding filly on the racetrack. The daughter of Miswaki won 8 of her 22 races including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), Prix d’Harcourt (G2), Prix Exbury (G3) and Prix Gontaut-Biron (G3). A half-sister to Darley Stud’s magnificent English 2000 Guineas winner King’s Best (Kingmambo), Urban Sea has proved an exceptional producer. She is the dam of Gallinule Stakes (G3) winner Urban Ocean (Bering), Pretty Polly Stakes (LR) winner and Irish Oaks (G1) runner-up Melikah (Lammatarra) and Galileo’s promising Group 1 placed brother Black Sam Bellamy, which recently opened his winning account at the Curragh.
The German bred mare Allegretta (Lombard), dam of Urban Sea and King’s Best, has had a remarkable influence on Group 1 races in Europe in recent years. In 2001 alone three daughters of Allegretta produced Group 1 winners - Urban Sea (dam of Galileo), Allez les Trois (Riverman-Allegretta) produced French Derby winner Anabaa Blue (Anabaa), and Anzille (Plugged Nickle-Allegretta) produced Deutschland Preis (G1) winner Anzillero (Law Society).
By:
Mark Smith
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