Galileo Triumphant

Even by Galileo's exalted standards last weekend was a remarkable one in a truly remarkable stud career. He was represented by four individual Group 1 winners, including Magical who took her seventh Group 1 when beating Ghaiyyath and another product of Galileo, Armory, in the Irish Champion St. Then Search For a Song took her second Irish St Leger; whilst Mogul and Shale won their first top-level races. In support, last year's Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck beat the great Stradivarius in a Longchamp Group 2, whilst Wembley looked a potential 2021 Derby horse when a fast-finishing second in the Group 1 Irish National S.

Joining the party was a second-generation descendant of the great stallion, Australia's son Galileo Chrome in the St Leger, whilst Ghaiyyath himself was produced by the Galileo mare Nightime, who was the very first of his ever-increasing world-record 88 Group 1 winners worldwide. In 2020 Galileo will become the Champion Sire in Great Britain & Ireland for the 12th time, behind only his own sire Sadler's Wells (14) and the 18th century stallion Highflyer (13); whilst he became the first sire in history to produce five Derby winners and 10 different British Classic winners in all. We are privileged to live in the era of one of the greatest thoroughbred stallions there has ever been.

….Why do we mention these Flat facts on a Shade Oak page that is usually dedicated to NH racing?

Well firstly, Galileo deserves all the appreciation he can be given. Secondly, his fantastic racing genes live on in two of our stallions, his son Telescope (bred on the noted Sadler's Wells / Darshaan cross) and his grandson Dartmouth, produced by the same Dubawi / Galileo cross that yielded Ghaiyyath.

We are confident that both will add further lustre to the Galileo legend - albeit at Cheltenham and Aintree rather that Ascot or Epsom!