GALILEO SIRES CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD

GALILEO SIRES CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD

Galileo - whose 2006 highlights included a Breeders' Cup winner and a Classic 1-2-3 from his first crop - completed a sensational year with the news that his unbeaten son Teofilo (3c Galileo - Speirbhean by Danehill) has been rated Champion Two-Year-Old in the World Thoroughbred Rankings.

Senior Irish Flat handicapper Garry O'Gorman admitted that not since Hawk Wing has a horse excited him as much as Teofilo, who he predicts could be a "monster" in 2007.

The dual G1 winner, who was bred by his trainer Jim Bolger, was ranked 123 - 1lb ahead of fellow two-time G1 scorer Holy Roman Emperor (3c Danehill - L'On Vite by Secretariat), a member of Danehill's final crop.

"I think Teofilo will be a monster this year, I really do," said O'Gorman.

"He struck me all year as an embryo three-year-old type and he is the horse I'm most looking forward to seeing.

His running style is quite remarkable - he's won five from five and on three occasions he was a sitting duck at the distance marker with horses coming from behind with a head of steam, and he looked as if he was going to get a sucker punch. On all occasions he fought back to win the race.

That is testimony to his fighting qualities and also suggests that he has quite a bit left in the tank.

"The only horse I can think of who I would compare him to would be Hawk Wing in terms of exciting me as a potential three-year-old prospect - a top-class two-year-old who looked as if he'd be a better three-year-old.

Teofilo's pedigree suggests he is going to improve with age and I think the sky is the limit. I think he could be exceptional this year."

O'Gorman felt that the 2006 juveniles were an outstanding bunch and added:

"I thought Holy Roman Emperor was out of the top drawer in Ballydoyle terms. I thought he was right up there with the best Aidan O'Brien two-year-olds of recent years, up with the likes of Johannesburg and Fasliyev. I don't think he showed his best in the G1 National Stakes."