Brilliant Galileo colt makes it 9 Derby wins in last 11 years for Coolmore sires
7th June 2008
"The thoroughbred exists because its selection has depended, not on experts, technicians, or zoologists, but on a piece of wood: the winning post of the Epsom Derby. If you base your criteria on anything else, you will get something else, not the thoroughbred," said Federico Tesio, one of the most knowledgeable breeders of all time.
The famous words of the legendary breeder Federico Tesio still ring true today and at Epsom on Saturday afternoon in the 229th running of the G1 Derby, Galileo joined the elite group of horses who have won the Classic and gone on to sire a winner of the race when New Approach (3c Galileo-Park Express, by Ahonoora) beat Golan's full-brother Tartan Bearer (3c Spectrum-Highland Gift, by Generous). Amazingly New Approach, who was bred by Seamus Burns' Lodge Park Stud, is the 9th winner in the last 11 runnings of the Derby to have been sired by a Coolmore stallion.
"Everything went according to plan and he just got the job done," said Bolger. "I thought before the race that winning would be up there with the best but after winning I can very willingly say it is the very best day I have had in racing. It gives me great satisfaction, I love to be competitive and this is a terrific sporting occasion." Bolger's son-in-law Kevin Manning rode the winner and added: "From a young age every jockey dreams of Epsom Derbys. There's always pressure, you do get a bit worked up beforehand, but he is a very classy horse and made things easy." The Epsom Derby success confirmed what most people already knew about Galileo, he is a worthy successor to his own sire Sadler's Wells and has already established himself as one of the greatest modern-day sires.
His first crop are still only five-year-olds but along with his Epsom Derby hero, he has had two European champion two-year-olds, as well as winners of the Breeders' Cup Turf, Irish Derby, Irish 1,000 Guineas, English St Leger, Italian Derby and - on Friday - the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom.
That latest winner was the Aidan O'Brien-trained Soldier Of Fortune (4c Galileo-Affianced, by Erins Isle), bred by who else but Jim Bolger, and a comfortable winner of the G1 event on his seasonal reappearance. "Soldier Of Fortune's a very natural horse," said his trainer Aidan O'Brien. "We are delighted with the progress he has made since three. He did get tired but he's an exceptional horse. It's great for his first run of the year and I'd say I was a bit concerned beforehand but Johnny (Murtagh) was extra cool." Murtagh added: "This boy quickened up and just got a bit tired in the last 100 yards. I think he's a better horse than last year and is going to be a serious horse this season. When I rode him in work the other morning I thought he would run very well although whatever he did today I thought he would improve on."
Bookmakers were very impressed with the performance and made Soldier Of Fortune the antepost favourite for both the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.