Galileo (Ire)

Returning to the Curragh venue at which he made a remarkable debut last month, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Devoted To You {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) had to endure his first fight to stretch his unbeaten record in Saturday's G3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes. What was left in the tank at the end of the 10-furlong contest after he had mastered the long-time leader Trustyourinstinct (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) by a neck remains to be seen, but the manner in which the 8-13 favourite hit...

Six additional wildcard lots have been added to the Tattersalls July Online sale, including unraced Siyouni Flash (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a daughter of dual Graded-winning Aigue Marine (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Selling as lot 108, the half-sister to multiple Listed winner Fenelon (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who ran third in the G2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville, is also a half-sibling to the dam of Listed Prix de la Seine winner Gala Real (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Their dam, who set a course record in the States when winning the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to Snowfall (Jpn) in a deep field of maidens at the Curragh. 13.15 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT ROCK OF CASHEL (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the pick of Ryan Moore from a Ballydoyle trio in this maiden used by Aidan O'Brien for...

When Aidan O'Brien resurrected City Of Troy (Justify) to win the Derby, he was rightly hailed as a genius. Sadly, it didn't take long for that piece of brilliance to be overshadowed by an expose-style documentary carried out by Ireland's national broadcaster [RTE] which concentrated on horses being sent to slaughter.  Admittedly, the documentary featured mostly non-thoroughbreds but the build-up and reaction to the programme has dominated the mainstream coverage of this sport in recent times. Not O'Brien's moment of magic that arguably should have been celebrated more than it...

ASCOT, UK -- It takes a good one to overcome adversity, and there can be no argument brooked when it comes to the talent of Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). It is writ large in form figures which predominantly feature the figure 1. But those bare statistics frame a year-long gap in which the horse was missing in action, with those around him fearing the worst as he battled to overcome an infection in a hind joint which nearly claimed his life.  "I saw him all the way through it and...

While copper has its origins in his moniker, Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) was all gold after adding to his 2022 triumph in a thrilling renewal of Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, becoming the first to regain his crown in the 2 1/2-mile contest since Kayf Tara (GB) (Sadler's Wells) did so at the turn of the century. His one-length victory provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending ninth edition, while Ryan Moore, now on four, remains some way shy of Lester Piggott's...

Franking the form of the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial, Ballydoyle's Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Danedrop {Ire}, by Danehill) relished the extra trip of Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase to justify Ryan Moore's faith and reward him by bringing up his 80th Royal Ascot. Always content on the front end, Ballydoyle's 7-4 favourite veered left in the straight when in command but found the line 1 1/4 lengths ahead of stablemate Highbury (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), with compatriot Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third. Aidan O'Brien, who was...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a seven-figure 2-year-old by Galileo (Ire). 14.40 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT ROYAL OFFICER (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is Godolphin's 1million gns Craven Breeze-Up topper who missed his intended debut at Haydock last week due to the quickening ground. A half-brother to the listed scorer Hidden Dimples...

Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency had the final say for Fun With Flags (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) at the Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale, the Listed winner bringing a final bid of €630,000. Fun With Flags won the Prix Rose de Mai, and was the G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up by just over two lengths to Halfday (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), for Jerome Reynier, and was offered with an entry in the G1 Prix de Diane. She has won three of her four career starts. When asked for details, de...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a seven-figure son of Galileo (Ire). 20.03 Haydock, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, 6f 212yT Godolphin's 1-million guineas Craven Breeze-Up sale topper ROYAL OFFICER (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a son of stakes-placed G1 1000 Guineas fourth Manderley (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) and thus a sibling of Listed Prix de...

The late Galileo (Ire)'s Huxley (Ire) topped the Tattersalls Online June Sale when selling to Dare To Dream Racing for 52,000gns on Thursday. Consigned by Bawnmore Racing, the placed 3-year-old colt (lot 80) is a half-brother to Group 1 winner and young sire Cloth Of Stars (Ire), while their dam, Strawberry Fledge (Kingmambo,) is a full to G1 Oaks winner Light Shift, herself the dam of Group 1 winner and Group 1 sire Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Will Smith of Dare To Dream Racing said, "We've been wanting to get...

3rd-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 6-5, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:35.75, gd. GRATEFUL (IRE) (f, 3, Galileo {Ire}--Tepin {GISW-Can, G1SW-Eng, MGISW-US, $4,437,918}, by Bernstein), the third foal out of the six-times top-level-winning dual champion turf mare, had not been seen since finishing ninth in this track's seven-furlong conditions race in August in which A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Opera Singer (Justify) were first and second. Racing in mid-pack early, the 13-2 shot stayed on strongly to reel in stablemate Mother Nature (Ire) (Justify) in the final strides and prevail by a...