Christmas Cup for Sea Galleon
Progressive stayer Sea Galleon (5g Galileo x San Michele , by Stravinsky) carried out a successful hit and run raid on the Listed ATC Christmas Cup at Rosehill on Saturday, his dam one of a number of classy mares in foal to high profile first season shuttler Lookin at Lucky.
The Colin and Cindy Alderson trained son of Galileo came up from Cranbourne during the week and presented in top class condition for the 2400 metre staying test.
Ridden a treat by Glyn Schofield, Sea Galleon was afforded a lovely trail on the outside, three pairs back from the speed.
At the 600 metres Schofield made his move, whipping around the field to apply pressure and putting Yulalona in a pocket, which he couldn’t get out of until the race was all over.
At the top of the straight, Schofield and Sea Galleon had sprinted to a clear advantage, which he maintained in the run to the line, scoring a length victory over Nextanix and Count Encosta.
"I think Glyn had to go when he did or he was going to get in a bad spot,” Cindy Alderson, who trains Sea Galleon with her father Colin, said.
"To the horse’s credit he used his turn of foot and then stuck it out really well.
"Very happy with him, he let down really quickly.”
Group I placed as a three year-old when third in the Group I SAJC SA Derby, Sea Galleon has the overall record of five wins from 20 starts and prizemoney of $239,697.
Purchased by the Alderson’s for $55,000 from the Ballymeath Farm draft at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Sea Galleon is the first stakes-winner for well bred Stravinsky mare San Michele, a daughter of Group II winner Close Your Eyes from the family of AJC Oaks winner Just Now.
San Michele is a resident at Coolmore Stud and has a colt foal by Henrythenavigator and is now in foal to Champion US Two and Three Year Old Lookin at Lucky, who is currently serving his first season in Australia.