Galileo Colt Finds Favour in NZ

Champion South African trained mare Igugu hit the headlines on the weekend when winning the Group I J & B Met in South Africa, the four year-old coming from the very last crop of Australian bred yearlings by champion European sire Galileo, who made an early splash at the 2012 NZB Premier Yearling Sale on Monday. Curraghmore Stud set the early pace at the sale when their Northern Hemisphere conceived and Australian born colt from Astonish (GB) made $320,000 to the bid of Adrian Nicoll of BBA Ireland The colt is the first foal of Cape Cross mare Astonish, who is a half-sister to Group winners Wunders Dream and Grecian Dancer. The colt is one of three by Galileo born in Australia in 2010, the other two being a colt from Tasmania (GB) that will be offered as Lot 482 at Karaka tomorrow and a filly from Truly a Beauty (USA) that is entered for the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Galileo took all before him in Europe last year with a slew of star performers led by Cartier Horse of the Year Frankel. Galileo had five foals born in Australia last year, so expect to see a few of those at the major Australasian sales next year.