Galileo's Kew Gardens is the Grand Prix de Paris Hero

Aidan O'Brien had spoken at Newmarket on Saturday afternoon of his stable's regime slipping into place and a few hours after U S Navy Flag (War Front) conquered there it was the re-energised Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who delivered a group 1 double to Ballydoyle in ParisLongchamp's Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris. In some ways, this colt is the epitome of how dramatic a turnaround his trainer can generate in one of his charges as he was at best lethargic and at worst dismal on his first three starts this term which included a 27-length eclipse in the G1 Epsom Derby. At last there was the revival of the colt who had destroyed Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) in Newmarket's Listed Zetland S. in October as he dominated the 14-furlong G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot June 20 and hold-up tactics were employed once again here as he was served up another relentless gallop by stablemate Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Ryan Moore covered the move of Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) passing the two-furlong pole and under driving the 7-5 favourite began to edge ahead of that leading domestic hope and on to an ultimately authoritative 1 1/4-length success. The G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee was eventually three lengths away in third, after another workmanlike effort which may be down to the summer ground.

Breaking his maiden on soft ground at Killarney in August, Kew Gardens was second to Nelson in the G3 Golden Fleece S. on Irish Champions Day at Leopardstown and fourth to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Beresford S. at Naas in September prior to his tour de force in the Zetland over 10 furlongs at Newmarket the next month. His comeback effort when third in the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. back at the latter venue Apr. 17 suggested he was some way off a peak and while he was initially sluggish and eventually well beaten into second by Knight To Behold (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial over an extended 11 furlongs May 12, it transpired after that he had lost a shoe there and he received a favourable mention from Michael Tabor in pre-Derby discussions. His run in the blue riband was characterised by aggressive early tactics and it may be a combination of that and his dislike of undulating tracks that saw him trail in ninth, but when this stable's runners go out of TV shot in that race it almost means nothing as he proved in the Queen's Vase just days later.

With Dee Ex Bee lifeless on ground that was probably too quick and proving another Mark Johnston overseas flop and Nelson being sacrificed for the winner, this renewal may not be worth taking too seriously but Kew Gardens is a colt on the upgrade now and his trainer is looking to put a cat among the older pigeons in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. in a fortnight. “We came here to see if he could go on to the King George,” O'Brien explained. “That was the idea. Royal Ascot first, then back over a mile and a half in the Grand Prix de Paris and then the King George according to this result. Ryan took his time and Kew Gardens is a beautiful colt who moves very well and needs good ground. That's why Ascot could be for him. He's easy to ride, he's good in his head and he stayed 14 furlongs at Royal Ascot.”
Neufbosc's trainer Pia Brandt is thinking of longer-term targets for the runner-up and said, “I am very proud of my colt. He gave everything today–I thought he could pull it off, but I can't say I am disappointed because he tried his best. He will now be aimed at the [Sept. 16 G2] Prix Niel on his way to the [Oct. 7 G1] Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.”

Kew Gardens has now joined his dam in the group 1-winning club, with Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) having proven more precocious in gaining her top-level success in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. From the family of the G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner and GI San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. runner-up River Warden (Riverman) and the GIII Hoist the Flag S. scorer Sweettuc (Spectacular Bid), her other two black-type performers include the speedy G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest third Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). She also has a 2-year-old full-brother and yearling full-sister to the winner to come.

Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
JUDDMONTE GRAND PRIX DE PARIS-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 7-14, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:28.62, gd.
1–KEW GARDENS (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Ire at 9.5-10.5f, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Ity, $527,260), by Desert King (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cinnamon Rose, by Trempolino
3rd Dam: Sweet Simone (Fr), by Green Dancer
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €342,840. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & GSP-Ire, 10-4-2-1, €549,605. *1/2 to Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), GSW & G1SP-Fr, $262,616; and Hamlool (Ire) (Red Ransom), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Neufbosc (Fr), 128, c, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Nonsuch Way (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Pia Brandt. €137,160.
3–Dee Ex Bee (GB), 128, c, 3, Farhh (GB)–Dubai Sunrise, by Seeking the Gold. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Mark Johnston. €68,580.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.40, 3.30, 2.20.
Also Ran: Folamour (GB), Nelson (Ire), Downdraft (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.