Galileo (Ire)

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. Tuesday's Observations features the return of GSW Chief Little Rock (Galileo). Ballydoyle's G2 Beresford S. and G3 Autumn S. runner-up CHIEF LITTLE ROCK (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) makes his seasonal debut in this wildcard event which comes with a free entry to June's G1 Derby. His five-strong opposition includes Sheikh...

The cliche of the difficult second album is very real. You have just recorded your greatest hit so, in many ways, you could feel destined to fail in attempting to follow up on something so special. Roderic Kavanagh set the bar pretty high in consigning Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale last year. The colt, bought by Anthony Stroud on behalf of KHK Racing, has turned out to be a dual Group 1-winning superstar who has yet to taste defeat. That's what you call a...

The third juvenile to make 525,000gns or more at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale was a colt by the late, great Galileo (Ire) (lot 112), who changed hands for 1 million gns on the bid of Anthony Stroud for Godolphin. Part of the Glending Stables draft, the Coolmore-bred bay--and only representative of his sire in the sale--is out of the stakes-placed Manderley (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), who ran fourth in the G1 1000 Guineas. She is also a full-sister to multiple group winner and multiple Group 1-placed sire Gregorian (Ire). Glending...

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 the first foal out of a dual Classic winner. 18.45 Dundalk, €13,000, Mdn, 3yo, 8f (AWT) IGOR STRAVINSKY (IRE) (No Nay Never) is the pick of Ryan Moore of two intriguing Ballydoyle newcomers and is the day's most exciting prospect as the first foal out 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 Observations features a full-sister to Found (Ire). 13.15 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 10fT RUBIES ARE RED (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) bids to build on her Galway debut third in October and continue Ballydoyle's strong start to the campaign in this maiden won 12 months ago by their Savethelastdance...

The extended 10-furlong View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Maiden has been used by Aidan O'Brien for his potential Derby colts in recent years and Tuesday's renewal was no exception as Agenda (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Different League {Fr}, by Dabirsim {Fr}) became the stable's latest TDN Rising Star. Following on from Galileo's Changingoftheguard (Ire) who two years earlier had won this en route to taking the G3 Chester Vase and G2 King Edward VII S., the highly encouraging third in a seven-furlong Curragh maiden in October was able to fully justify 11-10...

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 the third foal out of three-time Group 1 heroine Alice Springs (Ire). 13.25 Naas, Mdn, €16,000, 3yo f, 8fT FLEETINGLY (Justify) is the third foal out of the G1 Falmouth S., G1 Matron S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who...

For the first time since 1996, Seamie Heffernan will not be based at Ballydoyle--but Aidan O'Brien's long and trusted ally has revealed that he still hopes to be riding big-race winners in the Coolmore colours in the future.  It has been one of the worst kept secrets in Irish racing for some time that Heffernan, one of the constants at Ballydoyle for almost three decades now, would not be returning to the fold.  And on the eve of the opening day of the Flat season in Ireland, Heffernan lifted the...

The catalogue for the first of this year's European two-year-old sales is now online, with 180 lots catalogued for the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale set to be sold on April 16 and 17. With the high-class dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) as its poster boy for last year, the Craven sale has been represented by some notable graduates in recent seasons, including the Classic winners Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}). The latter's half-brother by Mehmas (Ire) is among those on...

TOWER OF LONDON (IRE) (c, 4, Galileo {Ire}-Dialafara {Fr}, by Anabaa) gave the Coolmore partners a dramatic, last stride victory under a quality Ryan Moore ride in the 3000-metre $2.5-million G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday. It was Moore's 18th ride and first win at the fledgling meeting, and trainer Aidan O'Brien's third runner and first winner, as well. Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who finished second in the 2023 edition, filled that spot again, a head off of the winner. The listed winner blew...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column reflects on success at Gulfstream Park for Warm Heart and Francesco Clemente.  The highlight of recent weeks has been the Coolmore partners' Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won her third top-level race in a third different country when taking the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. in Florida in late January (video). Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Coolmore-bred set a new course record, and is now bound for...

Deep Impact (Jpn), who died in 2019, has to some degree gone out in a blaze of glory with the dual Derby, Irish Champion S. and Breeders' Cup winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) among his final truncated crop of just 14 foals. What then of his old friend, the 12-time champion sire Galileo (Ire), with whom he has blended so well, and members of whose own last crop enter their juvenile season in 2024? There are just 13 Galileo two-year-olds and, according to the Weatherbys' sire report, only one of the...