Galileo Colt Wins Battle For Stakes Success

Falcon Eight (4c Galileo - Polished Gem, by Danehill) prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Listed Coral Marathan at Sandown on Sunday.

The Dermot Weld-trained raider was sent off the short-priced favourite following his close second in a similar contest last time out, having also finished third at Group 3 level at the end of last season. Returning to two miles, he was ridden to track the leader by Frankie Dettori, who asked him to challenge three furlongs out and came under pressure approaching the final furlong. Driven out to lead in the final strides, he beat Mekong by a head, as the first pair finished four and a half lengths clear of the third.

A Moyglare Stud homebred, Falcon Eight is closely related to Group 1 winner Free Eagle (High Chaparral), while his three-year-old full-sister Search For A Song won impressively on debut in May and finished second in the Listed Oaks Trial on her next start.