Sovereign Leads Home Galileo 1-2-3 In Irish Derby

Sovereign (3c Galileo - Devoted To You, by Danehill Dancer) made all of the running to lead home a 1-2-3 for Galileo in Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.

A 14 length maiden winner last September, he had performed well in defeat at Group level on several occasions at both two and three. Ridden to lead by Padraig Beggy, as he did at Epsom, he and stablemate Norway raced clear of the rest of the field for much of the way and it became apparent in the straight that the leader would not be caught. Pushed out under hands and heels inside the final furlong, he maintained an advantage of six lengths on the line, as Epsom Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Galileo) stayed on for second, beating Norway (Galileo) into third.

Galileo’s dominance in the Classics was apparent in the result and Aidan O’Brien was quick to reference this after the race, saying, “He's a Galileo and when they start galloping they usually don't stop.” On future plans for the winner, he mused, “The winner is a staying horse and he's going to stay well. He won't mind going the Leger trip. He could go to the King George or go to Grand Prix de Paris in France and then could have a break and go to the Leger.”

Owned by Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Sovereign is a full-brother to two other winners for Ballydoyle. He was bred by Barronstown Stud out of Group 2 Debutante Stakes second Devoted To You and comes from the family of champion three-year-old Balanchine and dual Group 1 winner Thunder Snow.