When Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact) won Saturday’s Gr1 Betfred Derby, he became the first Epsom Derby winner for his sire, and also the first English Derby winner produced by a daughter of 2001 Derby winner Galileo (Sadler’s Wells).
One of the greatest stallions in history, Galileo has sired more English Derby winners (five) than any other stallion in history, and his sons Frankel (Adayar), New Approach (Masar) and Nathaniel (Desert Crown) have all sired at least one winner of the Epsom classic.
Auguste Rodin wins the Epsom Derby under Ryan Moore (Pic – Candiese Leneferna)
Galileo’s total of 364 stakes winners is by some way the highest number of stakes winners sired by an individual sire, with his tally of stars not only including unbeaten legend and outstanding Frankel, but the likes of Found, Highland Reel, Churchill, Gleneagles, Minding, Love, Waldgeist, Teofilo, and last year’s Cartier Champion Stayer Kyprios as well as the English Derby winners New Approach, Ruler Of The World, Australia, Anthony Van Dyck and Serpentine.
The dominance of Galileo on the Epsom Derby can be seen by the fact that the late Coolmore colossus is either sire of, grandsire of or broodmare sire of the last six winners of the race! His grandson Masar (by New Approach) won in 2018, Galileo sons Anthony Van Dyck and Serpentine won the next two renewals, and two more paternal grandsons, Adayar and Desert Crown, won the Derby, prior to Galileo’s maternal grandson Auguste Rodin’s triumph on Saturday.
The majestic Frankel (Pic-Candiese Lenferna)
Remarkably, nine of the 14 runners in the 2023 Betfred Derby were sired either by Galileo or one of his sons, with the eventual winner Auguste Rodin out of a daughter of Galileo, and yet another runner, Dear My Friend, produced by a daughter of Galileo’s unbeaten son and top-class sire Teofilo.
Galileo’s impact has been just as profound on the Oaks, with Friday’s Gr1 Betfred-sponsored classic being won by Soul Sister, a daughter of Galileo’s greatest son Frankel.
Ironically, Soul Sister defeated Galileo filly, and favourite, Savethelastdance, into second place in the Betfred Oaks. Should Savethelastdance have prevailed in the 2023 Oaks, she would have joined the likes of Was, Minding, Forever Together, Love and Tuesday as an Epsom Oaks-winning daughter of Galileo.
Galileo, whose outstanding half-brother Sea The Stars is the sire of Friday’s Gr1 Dahlbury Coronation Cup winning filly Emily Upjohn as well as Epsom classic winners Harzand and Taghrooda, looks sure to feature as a broodmare sire and grandsire of plenty more classic winners in the years to come.
Auguste Rodin, who shares his sire with promising South African sire Danon Platina, is out of one of Galileo’s very best daughters in the form of Rhododendron.
Galileo
A full-sister to an even better race mare in the form of seven-time Gr1 winner Magical and Riethuiskraal Stud-based Gr3 winner Flying The Flag, Rhododendron won Gr1 races at two, three and four.
Winner of the Gr1 Fillies’ Mile at two, Rhododendron won the G1 Prix de l’Opera at three and added to that tally when victorious in the Gr1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at four.
Also runner-up in all of the Gr1 Qipco 1000 Guineas, Gr1 Investec Oaks and Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Rhododendron hails from the immediate family of Coventry Stakes winner Verglas -the broodmare sire of Saturday’s Gr1 Betfred Derby runner up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett).
