Hugo Palmer feels Al Shaqab Racing's Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) is getting stronger every week as he continues to build up towards the G1 Qatar Sussex S. The son of Paco Boy will bid for a third Group 1 success of the campaign in the one-mile prize, for which he is the general 7-4 favourite, on July 27. Despite having met with defeat in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas, having previously landed the G1 English 2000 Guineas, the 3-year-old bounced back with victory in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot.
“I'm very happy with him,” Palmer said. “There is a really nice break between Ascot and Goodwood. We weigh the horses every Monday and he was 15 kilograms heavier this Monday than he was the last one. He is not getting fat as he has had not had a day off. He is growing and getting bigger and stronger–like a bodybuilder going to the gym. He had two bits of work last week and acquitted himself well. Every week goes by he gets stronger.”
Galileo Gold is once again likely to lock horns with St James's Palace runner-up The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but the Newmarket handler believes there is no reason why he cannot confirm his supremacy over the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt.
Palmer added, “He had the widest draw at Ascot and jumped out quickly. He showed remarkable speed in the early part of the race. As soon as he got in the straight on the better ground, he kicked from the front. Frankie [Dettori] insists that Galileo Gold was idling in front and Frankie was adamant that if The Gurkha had come to him he would have had more gears to go to the line.”
The Gurkha was turned over at odds-on on his first try at a mile and a quarter in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, but O'Brien reports the G1 French 2000 Guineas hero in top form ahead of his return to a mile.
“The Gurkha seems to be in good order,” said O'Brien. “This is another test for him. He has come back well after the Eclipse and we are very happy with him so far at home.”
O'Brien was equally upbeat about G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Oaks heroine Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in her bid to follow up her impressive success in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. on July 30.
The Ballydoyle handler said, “She does not take a lot of work at home. She's been freshened up nicely and we are looking forward to the Nassau S.”
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