Galileo (Ire)

Aidan O'Brien representative Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Wadyhatta {GB}, by Cape Cross {Ire}), who possesses a similar profile to G3 Killavullan S. victor Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), followed up a Galway debut victory with a third in last month's G2 Beresford S. and justified odds-on favouritism with a daylight win in Saturday's G3 Eyrefield S. at Leopardstown. The crowd's 10-11 pick tanked forward from the stalls and settled into a smooth rhythm on the front end through halfway. Comfortably clear straightening for home, he held an unassailable lead approaching...

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 Galileo (Ire) son debuting at Leopardstown. 16.46 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT BLACKPOOL (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is an exciting newcomer for Aidan O'Brien in a maiden he has targeted with some smart types in recent times, being the third foal and first runner out...

Over 40 lots from the Niarchos Draft headline the 541-strong Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale catalogue, which was released on Tuesday. Some of the stars of the two-day stand on Nov. 24-25 are Classic heroine and four-time Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 1263) in foal to Sea The Stars (Ire); Group 1 winners Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) (lot 1240) in foal to Frankel (GB) and Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) (lot 1212) carrying to St Marks Basilica (Fr). All three mares are from the...

Ballydoyle second string Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}), sent to post as an unconsidered 20-1 chance returning off a sub-par sixth in last month's G3 Weld Park S., stepped forward in style to claim a first stakes triumph in Saturday's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at the Curragh. The May-foaled bay, who ran second behind the reopposing Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in Leopardstown's Listed Ingabelle S. on Irish Champions weekend, was the last of 10 into stride and raced under wraps in rear through...

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 to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) on debut at the Curragh. 13.10 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 9fT ILLINOIS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the latest progeny out of Danedrop (Ire) (Danehill), whose ground-breaking daughter Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) still...

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 Insights features a Ballydole Book 1 star and son of Frankel (GB). 13.55 Killarney, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 8f 30yT THE EUPHRATES (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is one of two Ballydoyle representatives and the newcomer of the pair, with Seamie Heffernan on the 800,000gns Book 1 graduate who is a...

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 full-brother to Grade I winner Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 16.10 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT SYMBOL OF POWER (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the latest Charlie Appleby/Godolphin project to be launched in the local town and has the usual eye-catching connections as a full-brother...

It is the time of year when ideas begin to form about the following season's Classics and with Derbys in mind, Saturday's G2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford S. at The Curragh offers food for thought. Aidan O'Brien's record in this mile staging post is plain remarkable, even by his standards, with a tally of 21 winners including St Nicholas Abbey (Ire), Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Japan (GB) and Luxembourg (Ire) and the fact that he has a trio engaged in the race he missed out in 12 months ago for the...

The name of brilliant 2yo Dundalk winner (and later G2-second) Capulet (Justify) gets one thinking, with the obvious connection to the famous tale of Romeo and Juliet. It also makes perfect sense that the dam is called Wedding Vow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}): Shakespeare's play is very much about the tragic conflict between two different matrimonial projects--the arranged marriage of Juliet with older man Count Paris versus the young girl's unlikely and passionate love for her "only hate" Romeo Montague. The play could very well be re-titled "Two Weddings and Five...

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. Thursday's Observations features the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 14.25 Doncaster, Cond, £300,000, 2yo, 6f 111yT JOHANNES BRAHMS (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) earned TDN Rising Star status on debut at Naas in May and has done nothing wrong in two subsequent starts, meeting one too good in the Listed...

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 Insights features a half to G1 Irish Derby winner Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}). 15.50 Galway, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 8f 123yT GROSVENOR SQUARE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) starts out in the maiden in which fellow Ballydoyle representative Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) earned TDN Rising Star status 12 months ago and...

Coolmore and Westerberg's G2 Ribblesdale S. victrix Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Sea Siren {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was defiant when battling to a career high in last month's G1 Yorkshire Oaks and displayed her fighting qualities once again to garner Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp. As she had done on the Knavesmire, Warm Heart settled into a smooth rhythm racing off the pace in fourth, having broken from the stalls with her nose shaving the turf here. Making relentless headway under pressure in the straight, the 3-1...