Galileo (Ire)

Already an emphatic winner of the G1 1000 Guineas, Coolmore's Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) entered elite territory on Saturday with a nine-length romp in the G1 Investec Oaks at Epsom. While not quite in the arena of the 12-length 1983 heroine Sun Princess (GB), this winning margin equalled that of the 1996 heroine Lady Carla (GB) (Caerleon) and there have been only four fillies in this race's history to have won by further. Settled behind a duo among the main six-strong group racing adrift of the runaway pacemakers Tiempo Vuela...

We are increasingly familiar with the kind of traction even the most brazen untruth can achieve in the era of social media. I guess people either no longer believe in hell, or they've decided they're headed there anyway. But let's not kid ourselves that we were ever especially diligent in authenticating what we read in the Good Old Days of hot-metal print. How apt, for instance, that a highly pertinent observation long credited to Mark Twain--that "a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting...

Aidan O'Brien is likely to split his 1000 Guineas winners Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with the former, the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner, pencilled in for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane and the latter, the G1 1000 Guineas winner, likely for the G1 Investec Oaks on July 4. "I was talking to the lads [John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor] this morning and it looks like Love, Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will go to Epsom," said O'Brien. "Peaceful might...

Playing host to a Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in full swing, Sunday's G1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh was as good as over after less than a furlong as Seamie Heffernan committed to front-running duties on the returning 2-5 favourite. Kept in training for good reason, the G1 English and Irish Champion S. and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup heroine of 2019 showed no mercy to her opposition and took off heading to two out en route to a 4 1/2-length dismissal of the 3-year-old Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia...

The Curragh played host to another TDN Rising Star on Sunday as Ballydoyle's newcomer Hudson River (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made all to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden with the promise of much to come. Showing dash from the break to gain the lead and rail advantage under Seamie Heffernan, the first foal out of the dual G1 Nunthorpe S. heroine Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who was the 3-1 joint-favourite was always doing enough in front and at the line had a comfortable 1 1/2-length margin to...

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 Insights features the first foal of top-class sprinter Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). 2.00 Curragh, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 7fT SNOWFALL (IRE) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) bids to build on her debut third at Navan earlier this month at this Irish Derby meeting that Aidan O'Brien always likes...

Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence? That's certainly a plausible inference, looking at the latest Grade I event staged on American turf. Of the seven fillies and mares contesting the Just A Game S. at Belmont on Saturday, four were bred in Europe; and three of those also started their track careers there. Moreover the solitary American winner at Royal Ascot was actually bred and raised in Ireland, and exported only last fall from Tattersalls. It stands to reason, of course, if European blood...

Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Chelsea Rose {Ire}, by Desert King), winner of the 2018 G1 St Leger, has been retired from racing and will enter stud next year under Coolmore's National Hunt banner. Bred by Barronstown Stud and raced by the Coolmore partners, Kew Gardens indicated an affinity for middle distances with a win in the 2000 metre Listed Zetland S. at two. He earned a first pattern victory in the G2 Queen's Vase S. at Royal Ascot before successfully dropping down to a mile and a half in the...

G1 Irish Derby ARTHUR'S KINGDOM (IRE) (Camelot {GB}-Madeira Mist {Ire}, by Grand Lodge) Bred by Skymarc Farm, Arthur's Kingdom was a €260,000 Goffs Orby yearling purchase by MV Magnier. The G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G2 King Edward VII S. runner-up is out of the GIII Dance Smartly H. winner Madeira Mist and therefore a three-quarter brother to triple GI Canadian International winner Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). CHIRICAHUA (IRE) (Camelot {GB}-Dowager {GB}, by Groom Dancer) Bred by Lynch Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock, Chiricahua was bought by Gaelic Bloodstock for...

4.15 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 6fT FRIENDLY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was not foaled until May 15th, so improvement can be expected in due time but it is interesting that Aidan O'Brien has opted to go so soon with the 12th progeny out of the speedy Massarra (GB) (Danehill). All of her full-siblings Mars (Ire), Gustav Klimt (Ire), Wonderfully (Ire), Cuff (Ire) and Blissful (Ire) and her half-sister Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) were able to make their mark in black-type company at different levels and this chestnut relative of...

Bouncing out of Leopardstown's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, Ballydoyle's Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) demonstrated the buoyant health of his stable by landing a strong renewal of the G3 Hampton Court S. on Wednesday. Second eight days ago racing against the bias at that Foxrock venue, Laurie Macri and Coolmore's 10-3 second favourite was delivered from rear by Ryan Moore with a surge to overwhelm the 9-4 favourite First Receiver (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the final yards. With full momentum as he crossed the line, the son of...

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 a son of Group 1 producer Irresistible Jewel (Ire) (Danehill). 2.10 Gowran Park, Mdn, €14,000, 3yo, f, 9f 100yT Coolmore's LABURNUM (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), an Aidan O'Brien trainee, is a full-sister to G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 Criterium International hero Roderic O'Connor (Ire). She is...