Galileo Colt Takes the Golden Fleece
Updated: September 12, 2015 at 2:54 pm
After the rain forced Aidan O’Brien to withdraw Shogun (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the master of Ballydoyle was still able to celebrate a fourth consecutive success in this informative contest as the progressive Johannes Vermeer ran out a ready winner. Third on debut when 8-11 over an extended seven-furlong trip at Tipperary July 11, the bay emerged from a short break to impress under the positive tactics employed by Emmet McNamara when off the mark over a mile and 100 yards at Killarney Aug. 19. Breaking well under Shogun’s intended jockey Joseph O’Brien before being settled in a perfect stalking third against the rail, he traveled strongly into the stretch and was committed on the front end passing the quarter pole. Kept up to his work as True Solitaire and the ultimately disappointing TDN Rising Star Sanus Per Aquam stayed on without truly threatening, Johannes Vermeer became the latest Ballydoyle charge to place himself in the Classic picture for 2016. “He was a bit disappointing first time in Tipperary, but that can happen over seven furlongs there,” Aidan O’Brien commented. “He came forward great from that and won nicely in Killarney where Emmet liked him. He picked up plenty when asked and battled well.”
Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
WILLIS CHAMPIONS JUVENILE S. (GOLDEN FLEECE S.)-G3, €100,000, LEO, 9-12, 2yo, 8fT, 1:43.99, yl.
1–#@JOHANNES VERMEER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Inca Princess (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
2nd Dam: Miletrian (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
3rd Dam: Warg (GB), by Dancing Brave
(€300,000 Ylg ‘14 GOFORB). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Teo Ah Khing; B-Desert Star Phoenix JVC (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Joseph O’Brien. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $79,391. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–True Solitaire (Ire), 129, c, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Majestic Silver (Ire), by Linamix (Fr). O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €20,000.
3–Sanus Per Aquam (Ire), 129, c, 2, Teofilo (Ire)–Fainne (Ire), by Peintre Celebre. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €10,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, NK. Odds: 5.00, 3.50, 1.25.
Also Ran: Rockaway Valley (Ire), Waipu Cove (GB), Moral High Ground (Ire), Play The Game (Ire), Battle Pride (Ire), Escondida (Ire). Scratched: Blue de Vega (Ger), Precious Gold (Ire), Restive (Ire), Shogun (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the brisnet.com PPs. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.