TDN RISING STARS

July 15, 2024 - KILLARNEY, Race 2, Cond, EUR €22,000, 8f 20y, 97.9300

Galen (GB), C, 3, 2021 by Gleneagles (Ire)

1st Dam: Apache Storm (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Best Side (Ire), by King's Best
3rd Dam: Mood Swings (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB)

Owner: Paul H Redmond & T G Fitzgerald & Mrs A M O'Brien & Barry Fowler
Breeder: Moyns Park Estate and Stud Ltd (GB)
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien

In a season that has seen Ambiente Friendly (Ire), Calandagan (GB) and Mill Stream (GB) fly his flag, Gleneagles (Ire) looks a sire coming good and Monday's card at Killarney witnessed one who could easily enhance his reputation further in the Joseph O'Brien trainee Galen (GB). Off the mark by nine lengths in a mile maiden that looked to lack depth at The Curragh last month, the flashy chestnut looked in a hurry to prove that he is the real deal with an emphatic 11-length follow-up to earn TDN Rising Star status.

Sent off the 4-9 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race over a mile, the 55,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 purchase who represents Ger Fitzgerald, Paul Redmond, Anne Marie O'Brien and Barry Fowler was sent to the lead by Dylan Browne McMonagle soon after the start where he was shadowed by the filly Beechwood (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}). Putting that rival under pressure after the home turn, he turned it on from there to record an impressive time nearly five seconds faster than the promising bunch of juveniles who contested the fixture's opener.

Beechwood is rated 94 and had been beaten under two lengths when fourth in the Listed Noblesse Stakes in April, so this was a genuine statement of intent from the winner who had been runner-up to City Of Troy (Justify) on his only 2-year-old outing last July.