The world’s premier stallion Galileo continued to exert his considerable influence when reflecting back on last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup meeting.
Galileo
Sarah Whitelaw writes that during the two day meeting, Galileo was the sire of a winner, broodmare sire of a winner, and is also responsible for the very game Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf runner up Magical.
Turf Triumph
His sons Nathaniel and Frankel also made their mark at the 2018 Breeders’ Cup, with Nathaniel’s outstanding daughter landing the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (over Magical), and Frankel’s previously unbeaten 2yo daughter East finishing second in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday.
Galileo, whose tally of more than 30 stakes winners in 2018 include seven individual Gr1 winners, came up with his fifth Breeders’ Cup winner when 2yo son Line Of Duty captured Friday’s Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in somewhat controversial fashion.
Line Of Duty
Bred on the same Galileo/Rock Of Gibraltar cross as Gr1 Rodeo Drive Stakes winner Photo Call, Line Of Duty made brief contact with runner up Uncle Benny which resulted in his connections having to endure an ultimately unsuccessful stewards enquiry. Line Of Duty was one of two Galileo sons to have contested the 2018 BC Juvenile Turf.
The colt is the third Sadler’s Wells male line descendant to win the Juvenile Turf, following on from Oscar Performance (2016), and Wrote (2013).
Galileo’s previous Breeders’ Cup winners had all landed the Turf, with Red Rocks winning in 2006, Magician scoring in 2013, his daughter Found landing the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2015, and the remarkable Highland Reel making all to win the Turf in 2016.
Broodmare Sire
Galileo also made his mark as a broodmare sire on Saturday’s leg of the Breeders’ Cup meeting. His maternal granddaughter Sistercharlie, a first Breeders’ Cup winner for her sire Myboycharlie, picked up her fourth Gr1 race this year when victorious in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, when denying triple Gr1 winner and Investec Oaks runner up Wild Illusion (Dubawi) victory by a neck.
Sistercharlie is a fantastic advertisement for the considerable merits of Galileo as a broodmare sire. The lengthy list of Gr1 winners produced by daughters of Galileo include a stunning ten individual top level winners in 2018 – namely Saxon Warrior (2000 Guineas), US Navy Flag (July Cup), the above mentioned Sistercharlie, Unforgotten (AJC Oaks), triple Gr1 winner The Autumn Sun, Age Of Fire (Levin Classic) South African Derby winner Hero’s Honour, Magna Grecia (Vertem Futurity Trophy), Leicester (South Australian Derby), and Fog Of War (Summer Stakes).
War Front
Both Fog Of War and US Navy Flag were sired by War Front, a stallion who is enjoying increasing success when mated to daughters of Galileo. Other notable performers bred on the War Front/Galileo cross include triple Gr1 winner Roly Poly, and stakes winners Fleet Review, and Naval Intelligence.
Galileo’s sire Sadler’s Wells also wielded considerable influence of the Championship series, with that legendary son of Northern Dancer the sire of Breeders’ Cup winners Islington, In The Wings, Northern Spur, Barathea, and dual BC Turf hero High Chaparral. High Chaparral, Montjeu, Perfect Soul, Galileo have all sired at least one Breeders’ Cup winner, while dual Turf hero Conduit (Dalakhani) was produced by a daughter of Sadler’s Wells, as was 1999 Mile winner Silic (Sillery).
Sadler’s Wells
Remarkably the past four Breeders’ Cup Turf winners (Found, Highland Reel, Talismanic, and Enable) are all descended from Sadler’s Wells in male line. Enable is now one of 10 Turf winners in total descended in male line from Sadler’s Wells.
Safe to say, it is most probable that this increasingly powerful male line is likely to enjoy further Breeders’ Cup success in years to come!
Galileo, however, was not the only stallion at this year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting to impress.
Ill-fated City Zip (Carson City), a half-brother to 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper, came up with his fifth individual Breeders’ Cup winner when his son Bulletin captured Friday’s Listed Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to give City Zip his second stakes winner at Churchill Downs on Friday.
City Zip, who died in 2017, had previously produced the Breeders’ Cup winners Catch A Glimpse (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Dayatthespa (Filly & Mare Turf) , Finest City (Filly & Mare Sprint) and Work All Week (Sprint).
A primarily speed influence, City Zip left behind a tally of more than 70 stakes winners, including Breeders’ Cup runner ups Collected (Classic) and Reneesgotzip (Turf Sprint).
Hawaii
City Zip’s South African connection came through his third dam Sailaway, who was a daughter of SA champion Hawaii (to whom unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) is inbred).
Outstanding stallion Candy Ride, whose remarkable son Game Winner maintained his unbeaten record when overcoming a rough trip to win the Gr1 Sentient Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by an impressive two and a quarter lengths, is another with SA ties.
Candy Ride, whose previous stars include 2017 Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of The Year Gun Runner, is a half-brother to Gr3 Jubilee Handicap winner Candy Singer (Singspiel), whose progeny include Listed Lady’s Bracelet winner Merysagos (Captain Al).
