Galileo Sires European Group Double
Tuscan Gaze (3c Galileo - Crystal Gaze, by Rainbow Quest) provided new connections with a quick return when capturing the Group 2 Derby Italiano at Rome on Sunday.
Bred by Coolmore and Daylesford Stud, the son of Galileo was purchased by MAG Horse Racing after winning his only two starts for John Gosden and is now trained by Luciano Bietolini. Sent off favourite under Carlo Fiocchi, the bay raced in midfield and began to make headway from four furlongs out. Ridden to lead approaching the two furlong marker, he was driven out to deny British raider King’s Caper by a nose on the line. Masterwin (Mastercraftsman) stayed on well to claim third.
Speaking after the race, Fiocchi said, “What a horse and what a race! He was forced to travel a bit wide, because the pace was moderate and I wanted to stay close to Frankie’s horse. Tuscan Gaze is a very good horse, with a good turn of foot.”
Antonio Calderone, who now owns the winner with Massimo Putti and Gabriele Bietolini, was similarly delighted and said, “I want to thank my friend Massimo Putti, who convinced me to join in this wonderful sport, and all the people that helped us to buy the horse. For a newcomer like me it’s a fabulous feeling. We wanted to invest more in good horses.”
Tuscan Gaze was completing a Group double on the day for Galileo, following Nobel Prize (3c Galileo - Hveger, by Danehill) coming out on top in a thrilling finish to the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes at Dundalk.
A maiden winner at the end of last season, Aidan O’Brien’s charge returned in the Queen’s Vase at Ascot and dropped back in trip to ten and a half furlongs on Sunday. Killian Hennessy rode the bay to lead, racing four lengths clear with three furlongs left to race and was joined by Indicative Vote close home. Battling back, Nobel Prize soon regained the advantage and won by a nose.
Speaking after the race, Hennessy said, “He stays very well, the plan was to go out and go a good gallop and thankfully it worked out. He just kept staying on the last furlong. He wandered around a little bit but he's very genuine and stuck his head out at the line. He's a big strong horse and will have no bother getting a mile-and-a-half. He did that very nicely.”
The Coolmore homebred should improve with age, being a full-brother to globetrotting superstar Highland Reel (Galileo), who won seven Group 1 contests as a three, four and five-year-old.