Arc day G1 double for Galileo fillies

Galileo was once again in the spotlight at Chantilly on Sunday when Happily (2f Galileo-You’resothrilling, by Storm Cat) and Rhododendron (3f Galileo-Halfway To Heaven, by Pivotal) pulled off a G1 double for the super sire.

First up, Happily took on the colts in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the full-sister to Gleneagles stormed clear in the final stages to score by a length and a quarter with Ryan Moore on board.

A trip to the Breeders’ Cup could now beckon for the Galileo filly, winner of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on her previous start.

“She was already a Group 1 winner over seven furlongs, so we were confident she would get the trip well,” said Moore. “We started racing a long way from home and she showed a great will to win. For a filly to beat the colts is a good thing for the future.”

Trainer Aidan O’Brien added: “It was the lads who decided to run her against the colts, so it was a brave call. She’s a tough, hardy filly and is a sister to Gleneagles. The fillies’ allowance wasn’t a disadvantage and she won well on the line. She showed she got the mile well so we think the [Juvenile] Fillies’ race [at the Breeders’ Cup] could suit her.”

Stablemate Rhododendron continued the memorable day when leading home a 1-2 for Galileo and O’Brien when defeating Hydrangea (3f Galileo-Beauty Is Truth, by Pivotal) in the G1 Prix de l’Opera. Both fillies could also be heading to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup.

"We've just been talking, me and Michael (Tabor), about sending Rhododendron to the USA for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. I think that will be the plan,” added O’Brien.

"She's all class and we thought she would win the Oaks, only for her to run into Enable at Epsom.

"I'm delighted with Hydrangea and there's a good chance that she could also go for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare.”