Classic hero Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}-Curious Mind {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) will stand at Starfield Stud in Ireland next year for the National Hunt division of Compas Stallions. The bay, trained by Joseph O'Brien for the Galileo Chrome Partnership, took the G1 St Leger S. at Doncaster last out in September, his fourth straight win from five starts. He also saluted in the Listed Yeats S. A fee for the Mohamed Ali Meddeb-bred, who has $313,148 in earnings, will be announced later.
“A tall, scopey, athletic individual with a fantastic walk, Galileo Chrome was one of the best 3-year-olds in training this year,” said Compas's Micheal Orlandi. “A great physical, with a star-studded pedigree, he is everything that National Hunt breeders look for in a stallion.”
The second foal of a winning Dansili mare, herself a half-sister to stakes winner and St Leger third Michelangelo (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and SW Private Secretary (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Galileo Chrome was a €75,000 RNA at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. His MSP second dam is a full-sister to SW & GSP Approach (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), the dam of French highweight and MG1SW Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), as well as Irish highweight Midas Touch (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and was second in both the G1 Irish Derby and St Leger. The stallion Aussie Rules (Danehill), who won the G1 French 2000 Guineas, is also a half-brother to Intrigued (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) and Approach. Galileo Chrome's fourth dam is the outstanding blue hen Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}).
Said O'Brien, “Australia was one of the best I rode and Galileo Chrome is easily, one of the best I trained. Unbeaten in his 3-year-old campaign, which culminated in victory in the G1 St Leger, I think he could have been the leading middle-distance horse in Europe next year. However, fortunately for breeders, he retires to stud and offers an opportunity to use a top class racehorse. He is a beautiful looking individual with all the qualities I look for in a racehorse. I could not recommend him enough and look forward to training his offspring.”
“Galileo Chrome developed into a high-class racehorse in a very short space of time,” said Kevin Blake. “From winning over a mile-and-a-quarter at Leopardstown, powering through heavy ground to win a listed race at Navan and winning the St Leger on good-to-firm ground, he wasn't found wanting for anything. His relaxed and straightforward nature meant that he could be ridden any way that was necessary, making much of the running to win at Leopardstown and showing pace to win the St Leger under a waiting ride.”
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