Galileo (Ire)

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...

For the second year running, the G1 Epsom Derby winner was bred from one of Coolmore's countless Galileo (Ire) mares outcrossed to an American sire line. But whereas Sunday Silence's son Deep Impact (Jpn) gave Auguste Rodin (Ire) further turf genes from his mother's European family, City Of Troy's sire is a conduit for virtually unadulterated dirt blood. Justify's first four dams are, respectively, by grandsons of Deputy Minister, Seattle Slew, Northern Dancer and Bold Ruler. The third of those names, of course, transformed the European breed, albeit alongside other...

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. Tuesday's Observations features the daughter of an Oaks runner-up, and who is also a half-sister to Group-winner Lily Pond (Ire). 18.45 Tipperary, Mdn, €12,000, 2yo, f, 5fT TRULY ENCHANTING (IRE) (No Nay Never) is one of two rides for Ryan Moore on the evening card and an intriguing Ballydoyle...

The sight of a son of Galileo (Ire) out on his own from pillar-to-post at The Curragh might be something soon to be available only in re-runs, but on Sunday his son Chief Little Rock (Ire) offered at least one more exhibition in his honour as Wayne Lordan dominated the G3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule S. Coming on from his return third in Epsom's Listed Blue Riband Trial last month, the G2 Beresford S. and G3 Autumn S. runner-up who started as the 11-4 second favourite had clear daylight on...

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 Wootton Bassett (GB) half-brother to standout fillies Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and Statuette (Justify). 13.20 Curragh, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT HENRI MATISSE (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) injects instant spark into an already talent-stacked Curragh card as the sixth foal out of the G1 Coronation S. and...

If Ballydoyle's Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was disappointing at York earlier on Friday, the stable was able to rely on Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to make amends in the G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. at Leopardstown. While the win was far from flashy, it at least confirmed the 2022 Gold Cup hero to be on track for a tilt at the Royal Ascot crown he was forced to give up through injury 12 months ago. Tracking the leading pair throughout the early stages, the 1-12 favourite was sent...

Three-time Group 1-placed Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and multiple Group winner Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will make Australian debuts for seven-time Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams in Brisbane with a long-term goal of targeting the 164th G1 Melbourne Cup. The former, runner-up to the globetrotting multiple Group and Grade I winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Irish Derby, was last seen in September winning the G3 Paddy Power Kilternan S. He will now be trained by Kris Lees and was in the nominations for Saturday's...

DEAUVILLE, France--The temperature is rising at Arqana and so, too, are the stakes. Breeze-up consignors young and old have made no secret about the fact that trade this year has been tricky, particularly at the middle to lower tiers.  All duck or no dinner, feast or famine--whatever way you want to describe it, vendors have had to negotiate some choppy waters, meaning a lot is still on the line at Arqana when the sale gets underway at 11am on Saturday. But, weirdly, the optimism is palpable. Maybe it's the baking...

We could run the numbers, as they say. What they will tell us is that Aidan O'Brien has dominated racing both in his home country of Ireland and its nearest neighbour, where he will this Saturday be inducted into the QIPCO British Horseracing Hall of Fame.  It doesn't end there, of course. He is known and revered around the world, his tally of 419 Group or Grade 1 winners (including National Hunt) having also been chalked up in America, Australia, Canada, Dubai, France, Hong Kong and Italy. No other trainer...

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. Monday's Observations feature the first foal out of G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Polydream as well as the debuting daughter of Fiesolana and a half-sister to G1 Irish Derby runner-up Piz Badile. 15.40 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, c/g, 10 1/2fT POLYSPEED (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is a significant runner...

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 pricy auction purchase. 16.00 Cork, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, 12f 25yT Aidan O'Brien trainee HIGHBURY (FR) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-brother to the stakes-placed Friendly Face (Ire) out of G3 Prix d'Arenberg victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. third High Celebrity (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Opposition...