By Alayna Cullen Birkett
After winning the Derby in 2013, Ruler Of The World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was bought into by Al Shaqab Racing in whose colours he went on to win the G2 Qatar Prix Foy at four. The son of Galileo (Ire) started his career at Coolmore's Fethard base, and from his first crop he sired the four-time Group 1 winner Iridessa (Ire), who became Joseph O'Brien's first Breeders' Cup winner as a trainer when she saluted in this year's GI Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita in November. The young trainer is only the second person to have ridden and trained a winner at the meeting, the other being Freddy Head. (O'Brien rode the late St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) to take the 2011 GI Turf at Churchill Downs.)
Ruler Of the World spent last year in Ireland at Castlehyde Stud and has recently moved to Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot, where TDN paid him a visit during the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.
“The thought was to bring him back here, because being a Group 1 winner by Galileo, who has sired a Group 1 winner, it's a very rare opportunity for any French breeder,” said Benoit Jeffroy, stud manager and bloodstock advisor for Al Shaqab Racing.
Although Ruler Of The World's first few crops are relatively small—with 35 and 38 named foals in 2016 and 2017—he has a respectable ratio of winners to runners and, being a Classic-winning half-brother to four black-type winners, including Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill), his crop size is likely to rise with this cross-Channel move.
“He's just starting and it's starting really well from small crops, we just hope it keeps going. He's got a new opportunity here with more mares,” said Jeffroy. “We will use him for ourselves as well, so that's why we brought him back.”
During our visit it was easy to see that he has an even and inquisitive temperament as he took in our cameras and showed off his walk in the spacious stallion yard of Haras de Bouquetot. Jeffroy added, “Well, he's a lovely, lovely horse. He has a good shoulder and a good hip on him. He also has a lovely walk, very athletic and a great temperament. He arrived a few weeks ago now, and he's settling in very well, getting to his daily routine and he really enjoys his new place.”
Ruler of the World certainly seems to be winning over his new hosts and, with the sales season wrapped up and attentions turning to nomination bookings, there is every reason to believe that he will find a new group of supporters among the French breeding ranks.
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