The classics keep coming for Galileo. The Coolmore champion sired the winners of the G1 Irish Derby and the G2 Gold Circle Derby in South Africa on Sunday.
Treasure Beach led home a Coolmore trifecta and a Galileo quinella in the Irish Derby at the Curragh. It also gave Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien his ninth win in the classic following the likes of Galileo himself (2001) and High Chaparral (2002).
Treasure Beach (3c Galileo – Honorine by Mark Of Esteem) had the stamina to out-stay his stablemates at the end of 2400 metres. He defeated Seville (Galileo) and Memphis Tennessee (Hurricane Run) by three-quarters of a length while the Queen’s colt Carlton House (Street Cry) finished a well-beaten fourth.
“Everything went to plan,” O’Brien said. “It was a good, even pace which suited everyone. Colm (O’Donoghue) was excellent on Treasure Beach, he settled him beautifully and produced him brilliantly.”
Treasure Beach has won 4 of his 8 starts and beat all bar Pour Moi in the English Derby on June 4. O’Brien indicated he will run in the G1 King George at Ascot next month on the way to the G1 English St Leger at Doncaster in September.
Treasure Beach was bred by Ashley House Stud and was sold as a foal for 180,000gns at Tattersalls in November 2008. His dam Honorine won three races up to 2000m in England and she is a half-sister to Indian Creek (Indian Ridge) who was a Group winner at Royal Ascot, Sandown and Newmarket.
Galileo doubled up with G2 Gold Circle Derby winner Il Saggiatore on Sunday. The Australian bred gelding had been beaten a head in the G1 Cape Derby in January.
Il Saggiatore is from Galileo’s last Australian crop. He was bred in Victoria by Glentree Downs and was purchased by Marcus Jooste for R750,000 at the 2009 South African National yearling sale.
Il Saggiatore (3g Galileo – Smidgin by Snippets) has been placed him to advantage by trainer Joey Ramsden. Earlier this season, he completed a winning hat-trick that included a Listed victory in the Greyville Guineas Trial.
Yallambee Stud sold his Excellent Art half-brother for $60,000 at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.
Sunday’s Derby double came just 24 hours after Galileo filly Misty For Me won the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes by six lengths at the Curragh. She had won the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas in May.
Galileo also sired Golden Lilac to a classic double in this year’s French 1000 Guineas and French Oaks.
And his world-class colt Frankel completed the English 2000 Guineas – St James’s Palace Stakes double earlier this month. He is being set for the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 27.
The next Group 1 on the agenda for Galileo is the Durban July Hcp at Greyville. His Australian bred filly Igugu has been installed favourite to beat her older rivals in South Africa’s premier race this Saturday.