Galileo has 33 Gr1 winners from his European crops and it’s worth remebering that as the very same stage of his stallion career, his sire the great Sadler’s Wells had only 26!
Coolmore’s great sire Galileo earned his fifth UK sires ranking in 2013 – and his third in a row. It is hard to see the champion losing his title anytime soon – and here is why:
1. He is an exceptional sire
Galileo’s current stats suggest he is on the way to surpassing his own sire (Sadler’s Wells). He is the sire of 38 Gp/Gr 1 winners to date. Galileo’s 2010 foal crop has produced no fewer than four G1 winners to date, his 2009 crop had five, and his 2008 crop an impressive NINE individual top-flight winners.
Galileo’s offspring have earned over $133 million. Sire of arguably the greatest racehorse ever seen in Europe (Frankel), Galileo’s first eight crops of racing age (2yos of last season not included) are averaging five Gr1 winners per crop.
2. He has great support
Always supported with outstanding mares, Galileo’s latest crops include yearlings out of some exceptionally well bred and performed mares. Galileo’s current crop of juveniles include colts out of such G1 winners as Alexander Goldrun, Amorama, Ask For The Moon, Circle of Life, Field Of Hope, Golden Ballet, Mauralakana, Rags to Riches, Riskaverse, Rumplestiltskin, Saoire, Simply Perfect, and Zarkava.
Interestingly enough, Galileo also has a 2yo colt this season out of Song to Remember (2nd dam of Captain’s Song, who fetched R2 million at the 2014 Cape Premier Yearling Sale).
His juvenile fillies include daughters of such great mares as Adoration, Six Perfections and dual Oaks winner Sariska (to name but a few), and it is safe to say that Galileo’s next few crops will continue to garner plenty of attention. Barring his own daughters (and mares sent the way of his son Frankel, Galileo tends to be the go-to sire for all owners of top-class European mares).
3. Numbers
Racing is definitely a numbers game – and very few stallions succeed at the top level without covering large books of mares. Galileo’s current crop of 2yos in 2014 number (according to Equineline) 197 in total. Given the quality of his mates as well, Galileo looks poised to continue his stranglehold on the world’s major races for some time to come.
The fact that his progeny are, by and large, horses who need a mile plus to be at their best, means that Galileo’s best offspring largely compete for some of the world’s top middle-distance races, far richer contests than the sprint equivalents. Some of his top progeny include:
Kingsbarns
An unbeaten G1 winner at two, Kingsbarns looked impressive when he won the 2012 Racing Post Trophy over a field which included subsequent Irish Derby hero Trading Leather. However, the colt made just 2 starts last year.
First time out, Kingsbarns was pulled up, but he put up a good showing when third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, against a more seasoned field of runners. Should he build on his last effort (and possibly step up in trip), Kingsbarns could yet confirm the promise he showed at two.
Magician
Voted Europe’s Cartier Champion 3YO Colt, Magician raced just four times in 2013. He won three, and was badly interfered with when last in the St James Palace Stakes. Brilliant winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, Magician stepped up to 2000m when winning the Breeders Cup Turf over outstanding filly, The Fugue (winner of three G1 races in open company). A horse with an exceptional turn of foot, Magician remains in training at four, and he looks a top prospect for any G1 contest he may contest.
Tapestry
While Galileo is an outstanding sire of colts, his daughters have constantly excelled at the highest level around the world. The beautifully bred Tapestry looks a big runner for Galileo in 2013, having looked really promising at two. Out of former champion filly Rumplestiltskin (and from the same family as champion Miesque (dam of leading SA sire Judpot), Tapestry is bred on the uber potent Galileo/Danehill nick.
She won her first two outings at two (including a win over 1200m in July), and then ran third (promoted to second) when looking unlucky in the Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. Tapestry is second favourite (quoted at 7-1) for the 2014 1000 Guineas, and is the 10-1 favourite for the Investec Oaks.
Australia
A colt with strong claims to being the best bred horse in training, Australia looks a natural classic hopeful. The winner of two of his three outings to date, Australia looked very special when thrashing the highly rated Free Eagle to win the G2 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf trial by six lengths.
The first stakes winner for the great mare, Ouija Board, Australia has already established himself as a tremendously sought after sire prospect, and if he can build on the promise shown, Australia looks sure to give his sire yet another major win.
A son of two Epsom classic winners, (Paddy Power, Coral), Australia is currently quoted a 4-1 shot for the 2014 Investec Derby. It is quite conceivable that Australia will give Galileo a second consecutive Investec Derby winner – Galileo’s son, Ruler Of The World, won the classic in 2013.
Ruler Of The World
Winner of three races, Ruler Of The World won what is considered to be a rather substandard Investec Derby last year. This opinion was formed after none of the first seven home won another race that season. However, Ruler of The World did put up a number of smart performances following the Derby – most notably when a close third to top older horses Farhh and Cirrus Des Aigles in the Champion Stakes.
The 3yo was beaten just three parts by the winner, and if he progresses the way his half-brother, Duke Of Marmalade, did, Ruler Of The World looks a very interesting proposition for some of the top races in 2014. It’s a little surprising the colt remains in training – as a Derby winning son of Galileo and from the family of A P Indy, Ruler Of The World already has plenty to offer breeders. With all these factors in his favour, it is surely hard to imagine Galileo being dethroned from his title as Champion Sire any time soon.
