SEVERAL of the first foals sired by classic winner Galileo Gold made large profits for their breeders at the 2019 Goffs November Sale, with Ringfort Stud receiving €80,000 for their daughter of Flare Of Firelight, while two other fillies sold for €55,000 and €50,000.
A Group 2 winner as a two-year-old, Galileo Gold won two Group 1 races and was twice second at that level in his second season, before retiring to Tally-Ho Stud in Co Westmeath.
Galileo Gold’s sire Paco Boy was also a brilliant miler some 10 years ago, with this grandson of Green Desert scoring Group 1 victories in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Prix de la Foret and the Lockinge Stakes, and with five other group wins to his credit.
On his dam’s side, Galileo Gold is one of four winners out of the Galileo mare Galicuix, a half-sister to champion sprinter Goldream who was successful in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes and the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye. His third dam is a half-sister to champion sire Montjeu.
Never out of the first three as a two-year-old, Galileo Gold followed up wins at Salisbury and Haydock Park by completing the treble in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, and then ended his first season with a close third to Ultra in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp.
Thrown in at the deep end as a three-year-old, Galileo Gold reappeared in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, forging clear to score impressively by a length and a half from Massaat and Ribchester. He came close to a classic double in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas, but could not catch Awtaad on the heavy ground and had to settle for second prize, four lengths clear of third-placed Blue De Vega, with Air Vice Marshal and Air Force Blue further back.
Galileo Gold was back to his best in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot where he held off French 2000 Guineas winner The Gurkha and Awtaad by over a length for an impressive victory. Going to Goodwood for the Group 1 Sussex Stakes, also over a mile, he made all the running but was caught in the final stride by The Gurkha who beat him by a neck, with Ribchester a close third ahead of Toormore and Awtaad.
The first three in the Sussex Stakes were rated the best three-year-old milers in Europe, with Galileo Gold on 121, level with Irish Derby hero Harzand.
GALILEO GOLD (GB), Chesnut 2013. Jt 4th top rated 3yr old colt in Europe in 2016. Won five races, £960,886, from 6 furlongs to 1 mile, at 2 and 3 years including, Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, St James’s Palace Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Qatar Vintage Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.2, also placed second in Qatar Sussex Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.1, Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, Curragh, Gr.1, and third in Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Grand Crit, Longchamp, Gr.1.
Retired to Stud in 2018, first crop now yearlings.
Stands at: Tally-Ho Stud, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland.
Contact: Tony O’Callaghan or Roger or Henry O’Callaghan
Telephone: (353) 44 93 48450
Email: info@tallyhostud.com
Web: www.tallyhostud.com
Fee: €7,500