Galileo’s Gr1 Ranvet Stakes winning son The United States made a bold statement when his very first runner, Sheela, made a winning debut to land Saturday’s Listed Storm Bird Stakes.
A well performed and durable sort, who earned over $2 000 000 during his racing career, The United States bought an extremely attractive and fashionable pedigree with him when the chestnut retired to Moutonshoek in 2017.
Photo by: Romi Bettison Photography (www.facebook.com/bettisonromi)
His first crop went through the sales ring at Mistico this past weekend with his sextet totalling R740 000, at an average of R123 333.
A group winner in two different countries, The United States is out of Gr2 Prix du Gros-Chene winner Beauty Is Truth, a daughter of top sire and broodmare sire Beauty Is Truth. The well bred Beauty Is Truth – a half-sister to French 1000 Guineas runner up Glorious Sight and a daughter of G3 Prix du Bois winner Zelding – is one of a handful of elite broodmares to have produced three Gr1 winners, with her daughters Hermosa (1000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas) and Hydrangea (British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, Matron Stakes) joining The United States as a top level Gr1 winner for Beauty Is Truth.
The United States is a son of the world’s premier stallion Galileo, who, while yet to sire a stallion son close to reaching his own staggering heights, has already sired a slew of high-class sire sons.
The United States (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Among the dual Derby winner’s best sire sons are proven Gr1 sources Australia, Frankel, Nathaniel, New Approach and Teofilo, while young Galileo sons yet to be represented on the track include such standouts as Churchill, Highland Reel, Ulysses and Waldgeist.
Galileo has also, already more than made his mark in South Africa, despite having only been represented by a handful of runners.
His local representatives were headed by Horse Of The Year, and July/Met winner, Igugu, fellow Equus Champion Mahbooba, and the graded stakes winners Alvaro (Winter Classic) Il Saggiatore (Gold Circle Derby), Rain Gal (Final Fling Stakes) Sidera (Fillies Mile), as well as stakes winners Galileo’s Night (Durbanville Cup) and Miss Galilei (Spook Express Handicap) and Gr1 Cape Guineas runner up Galileo’s Galaxy.
Galileo’s stakes placed daughter Grail Maiden is the dam of Gr1 SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour (Await The Dawn) and Gr1 Thekwini Stakes runner up Railtrip (Trippi).
Despite not having a long innings at stud, Mahbooba (South Africa’s Champion 2YO Filly of 2009-2010) went on to make her mark at stud, as the dam of group winners Dubai Warrior (Gr3 Winter Derby) and Mootasadir (Gr3 Diamond Stakes).
Galileo has also had several sire sons make his presence felt in South Africa.
The United States (white blaze) in race action
Former Drakenstein Stud resident, and G1 Racing Post Trophy winning son Kingsbarns left behind champion Gabor and Gr2 Concorde Cup victor King Of Gems in his first small crop, while Galileo son Global View, whose son Global Drummer captured Friday’s Ibhayi Stakes, was South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2019-2020.
Fellow Galileo sons responsible for stakes winners in South Africa include Frankel, New Approach and Teofilo. New Approach’s multiple graded stakes winning son New Predator is currently standing at the Bush Hill Stud, while unbeaten champion Teofilo’s local representatives include graded stakes winners Tamaanee and Brazuca.
It is interesting to note that while Sheela is out of the Trippi mare Trip To India, Gabor is out of Trippi daughter Se Agabor and King Of Gems out of Trippi matron Sapphire Gem.
