Galileo Completes Incredible Stakes Clean-Sweep

The progeny of Galileo completed an incredible clean-sweep of the three Stakes contests on Thursday evening’s card at Leopardstown, all trained by Aidan O’Brien for Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs John Magnier.

First to strike was Love (2f Galileo - Pikaboo, by Pivotal) in the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes, following up on her maiden course and distance success earlier in the month. She made all of the running under Seamie Heffernan, extending her advantage from the two furlong pole and was ridden out to score by three and a quarter lengths.

Aidan O’Brien earmarked the Debutante Stakes after the race and said, “She's a lovely filly and progressing, obviously. They are really coming forward with every run and she won nicely here the last day.” O’Brien trained Love’s full-sisters Peach Tree (Galileo) and Flattering (Galileo) to win Stakes races, all of them half-sisters to talented sprinter Lucky Kristale.

Love was bred by Coolmore, as was Armory (2c Galileo - After, by Danehill Dancer), an ultra-impressive winner of the Group 3 Tyros Stakes. Sent off favourite under Ryan Moore, the bay was following up on an impressive maiden win at the Curragh last month, also run over seven furlongs. He tracked the leader in second and improved to lead over a furlong out, striding clear to win by five lengths from stablemate Toronto (Galileo).

A suitably pleased Aidan O’Brien commented after the race, “You'd be delighted with him and we'll go for the Futurity with him. He looks like a horse that as a three-year-old a mile would be his trip. You never know, he could stay further, but he's not short of pace. We're delighted with him.”

Armory is one of two winners out of the multiple Stakes-placed mare After, herself a daughter of Grade 1 performer Noahs Ark.

Later on the card, South Sea Pearl (3f Galileo - Cassydora, by Darshaan) led home a 1-2 for Ballydoyle and Galileo in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes. The bay filly won her maiden by nine lengths at the start of the month and was beaten less than two lengths in the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes over the same trip of 14 furlongs last time out.

Ryan Moore held the favourite up, improving his position entering the straight and switched left to challenge with a furlong and a half left to race. Leading soon after, she stayed on well to beat Simply Beautiful (Galileo) by three lengths.

Speaking after the race, Aidan O’Brien said, “She could be a Park Hill filly or something like that. She stays well and she's progressive.” O’Brien also trained South Sea Pearl’s full-brother Ernest Hemingway (Galileo), a three-time pattern winner. They were bred by Barronstown Stud out of Stakes winner Cassydora, who claimed runners-up honours in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes.