Galileo Filly Earns Park Hill Plaudits

Off the mark over a mile and a half at Newmarket May 15, Gretchen was an unthreatening fifth while staying on at the end of the G2 Ribblesdale S. over that trip at Royal Ascot June 18 and was even less of a factor when seventh in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh a month later. Dropped in class for the Listed Chalice S. remaining over 12 furlongs at Newmarket at the start of last month, the chestnut battled to a first black-type success and fully appreciated this step up in trip to add this “Fillies’ St Leger” to the Irish Leger dead-heat of her half-brother Duncan (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Keen early trapped wide in sixth, the homebred arrived down the center of the track once straightened for home and after gaining a narrow lead with a furlong remaining dug in to best Melodious and Asyad in a tussle to the line. “She takes a bit of time to get into gear, but fought them off bravely,” jockey Robert Havlin said. “She’s got a massive frame and there is improvement to come from her. I didn’t go for her until a furlong and a half out.” Owner-breeder Philippa Cooper added, “It’s been a wonderful family and we thought she’d stay with her half-brothers Duncan winning the Yorkshire Cup and the Irish St Leger and Samuel (GB) (Sakhee) the Doncaster Cup. It’s exactly 18 years since I established the stud and her dam Dolores has bred me all these horses who all have stamina. I breed from her every other year, as I’m mindful of her and she’s got an Al Kazeem filly foal and I may breed from her one more year. They get bigger and taller and leggier with every year. It’s great winning these races, as they are as near to national hunt as we can get without jumping a fence. I love these staying races, as they tell a story. I was going to retire Gretchen after today, as there are no races for her now and she would have to take on the boys.”

Thursday, Doncaster, Britain
DFS PARK HILL S.-G2, £90,000, DON, 9-10, 3yo/up, f, 14f 132yT, 3:06.46, gd.
1–@GRETCHEN (GB), 119, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Dolores (GB) (SW & G1SP-Eng, $127,348), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Agnus (Ire), by In the Wings (GB)
3rd Dam: Wavy Reef (GB), by Kris (GB)
O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Robert Havlin. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $127,958. *1/2 to Duncan (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), G1SW-Ire, GSW-Eng & Fr, $579,189; and Samuel (GB) (Sakhee), GSW-Eng, $240,918. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Melodious (GB), 119, f, 3, Cape Cross (Ire)–Gower Song (GB), by Singspiel (Ire). (45,000gns Ylg ‘13 TAOCT). O-Mrs Doreen Tabor; B-Usk Valley Stud (GB); T-David Elsworth. £19,350.
3–Asyad (Ire), 131, f, 4, New Approach (Ire)–Elle Danzig (Ger), by Roi Danzig. (€230,000 Ylg ‘12 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Gestut Wittekindshof (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £9,684.
Margins: NK, HF, 1HF. Odds: 5.00, 12.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Toe the Line (Ire), Groovejet (GB), Koora (GB), Mill Springs (GB), Arabian Comet (Ire), Hidden Gold (Ire), Vive Ma fille (Ger), Island Remede (GB). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.