Galileo Chrome Provides Australia With Classic Success In St Leger

The hugely progressive Galileo Chrome (3c Australia - Curious Mind, by Dansili) extended his unbeaten record this season when triumphing in Saturday’s St Leger at Doncaster.

Successful on all three of his previous starts this season, including at Listed level, the Joseph O’Brien-trained colt faced a significant step up in class and in trip at the weekend. Tom Marquand rode the bay in midfield, asking him to quicken over two furlongs out and led approaching the final furlong. Running on strongly, he held off Berkshire Rocco by a neck, with another length back to Pyledriver in third.

Galileo Chrome’s victory saw Joseph O’Brien become the first man since Harry Wragg to ride and train a Leger winner. It also marked a landmark success for his sire Australia, whose son Ron Priestley finished second in last year’s running of the prestigious Classic.

Tom Marquand later explained what the win meant to him, saying, “Classics in Britain are some of the hardest races to come across, Group 1s in Britain are equally hard. To have my first winner on UK soil in the St Leger for Joseph O'Brien, who growing up at my time was one of the best jockeys around and is now training and doing a similar job – it's mind-blowing to get an opportunity like this.”

Bred and previously owned by Mohamed Ali Meddeb, Galileo Chrome hails from the second crop of dual Derby hero Australia. The Coolmore Stud sire has been represented by some progressive colts this season, namely Mooresbridge Stakes victor Leo De Fury and Group 1 performer Patrick Sarsfield, while daughter Cayenne Pepper claimed runners-up honours in this year’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes and Irish Oaks.