Galileo (Ire)

The week's narrative had involved Aidan O'Brien, Ryan Moore and the ground-breaking Galileo (Ire) and that ran into Sunday's G3 Cornelscourt S. at Leopardstown as the aptly-named History (Ire) swooped in the last of the trials for the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. At 2.8million gns the second-highest-priced lot at the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, the daughter of the multiple graded-stakes winner Prize Exhibit (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) was last seen breaking her maiden at this trip at Gowran Park in September. Soon manoeuvred to mid-division from her wide...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a full-brother to Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 3.00 Leopardstown, Mdn, €13,500, 3yo, 12fT GULLIVER'S TRAVELS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was the top-priced colt at €2 million at the Arqana Deauville September Yearling Sale, which is no surprise given that he is a full-brother to the globe-trotting...

Jean-Claude Rouget is not prone to hyperbole so, when the decorated French handler compared the unexposed Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) to his only G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) earlier this week, some people did a double take. Not Benoit Jeffroy, who manages Haras de Bouquetot on behalf of the Al Shaqab operation. Jeffroy has long been aware of the standing in which the multiple Classic-winning trainer has held Al Hakeem and, when the colt won the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly on...

Team Ballydoyle had registered five prior wins in Lingfield's Listed SBK Derby Trial, including with subsequent G1 Epsom Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2019, and Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore teamed up once again with United Nations (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Christmas Kid, by Lemon Drop Kid) to continue their banner week with a hard-fought victory in this year's edition. For sire Galileo, it was a fourth new stakes winner of the week and extended the Coolmore icon's world-record tally to 351. United Nations graduated over seven furlongs...

After Aidan O'Brien had taken Chester by storm to an even greater extent than usual, the Rosegreen purple patch continued apace at Cork on Friday evening when the closing race saw a TDN Rising Star performance by the newcomer Martinstown (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Named after J P McManus's famous Co. Limerick establishment, the May-foaled bay carries the colours of his daughter Sue Ann Foley who owns him in partnership with Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor and with his title there was an air of expectation surrounding his debut under Wayne...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a daughter of Group 1 winner Ridasiyna (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). 2.50 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, f, 10fT RIDAVIYA (FR) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is a daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Ridasiyna (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) who starts out for that talented mare's trainer Mikel...

The racing public will decide which of three G1 Derby winners will join the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. Voting is now open to select from Shergar (GB) (Great Nephew), Galileo (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), and will close at midnight on Sunday May 22. Successful in the Derby in 1981, Shergar also landed the Irish equivalent and the G1 King Geroge VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. but was later kidnapped after a brief stint at stud. Former Coolmore kingpin Galileo...

Chester's May meeting, day two, status quo. Fresh off a day for the ages, Galileo extended his record tally of stakes winners to 350 when Aidan O'Brien trainee Star of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Shermeen {Ire}, by Desert Style {Ire}) displayed all the battling traits of his sire by finding plenty in the latter stages of Thursday's Listed Homeserve Dee S. to claim a first black-type rosette in ultimately impressive style. Star of India became a 'TDN Rising Star' with a taking score over seven furlongs in his debut at Leopardstown...

Westerberg and Coolmore's Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) may have face markings in the form of a question mark, but there was no doubting his class in Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase as the 10-3 chance bounded to an impressive 6 1/2-length triumph and extended sire Galileo's world-record tally of stakes winners to 349 in the day's extended 12-furlong feature. He had previously graduated by six lengths in an April Fools' Day maiden at Dundalk in his fourth start on seasonal return. Ryan Moore, who had made all aboard Ballydoyle's Thoughts...

Aptly-named Aidan O'Brien trainee Thoughts of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished behind Above The Curve (American Pharoah) tackling one mile at Leopardstown in her juvenile season closer last October and again when that reopposing rival attained TDN Rising Star status over the same course and distance last month. Sent postward at odds of 7-1 for Wednesday's Listed Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Cheshire Oaks at Chester, she gained some measure of revenge to shed maiden status in game fashion. Thoughts of June was quickly into stride and led passing the judge first...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Insights features Cologne, a half-brother to Tepin. 5.20 Gowran Park, Mdn, €13,000, 3yo/up, 8fT COLOGNE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the 10th foal out of Life Happened (Stravinsky), whose claim to fame is being the dam of the accomplished Tepin (Bernstein), heroine of the G1 Queen Anne S. and...

   One of Ballydoyle's most idle performers, the talented Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gets to go over two miles for the first time on Wednesday as he warms up for the Royal meeting in Ascot's G3 Longines Sagaro S. While the G1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up and G1 Irish Derby third hardly quickens the pulse with his dour galloping style, the full-brother to Kew Gardens (Ire) could be a G1 Gold Cup horse through-and-through and we will know more after his encounter with the 2020 G1 Prix du Cadran...