Group 1 Double Brings Galileo Closer To Danehill’s Record

After a super Saturday of four Stakes winners at Leopardstown, Galileo sired a Group 1 double at the Curragh to continue his domination of Irish Champions Weekend.

Coolmore homebred Love (2f Galileo - Pikaboo, by Pivotal) was first to strike when staying on well to deny hot-favourite Daahyeh in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes under Ryan Moore. An impressive winner of the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes in July, she may now aim to double up at the highest level in the Fillies Mile, according to Aidan O’Brien. “We wanted to keep her at this trip and then go for the Fillies Mile,” O’Brien explained, adding, “She could hopefully be a fantastic filly next year.”

Love is one of four Group winners out of the mare Pikaboo, who is closely related to top seven furlong performer Arabian Gleam.

Just over an hour later, the progressive Search For A Song (3f Galileo - Polished Gem, by Danehill) made most of the running to win the Group 1 Irish St Leger for Dermot Weld and owner/breeder Moyglare Stud Farm.

A Listed winner last time out over a mile and a half, the chesnut appreciated the extra two furlongs on Sunday, as she stayed on strongly to score by two and a quarter lengths. Kew Gardens and Southern France took second and third respectively to complete a 1-2-3 for Galileo.

Speaking after the race, a delighted Dermot Weld said, “She has improved and progressed throughout the year and she is going to make up into a lovely four-year-old. She is potentially a very high-class stayer.”

Search For A Song is a half-sister to Princes Of Wales’s Stakes victor Free Eagle (High Chaparral) and multiple Group winner Custom Cut. Their dam, Polished Gem, is a full-sister to Grade 1 scorer Dress To Thrill (Danehill), while the second dam Trusted Partner won the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Sunday brought Galileo’s tally of Group 1 winners to 82, edging ever closer to Danehill’s record of 84.