Simply Marvellous day for Galileo
Even by his own exemplary standards, Galileo had a truly outstanding day at the Curragh on Sunday that included a Classic winner, another G1 1-2 and a G3 victor who looks a future G1 performer.
Heading the way in the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas was the lightly-raced and beautifully-bred Marvellous (3f Galileo-You’resothrilling, by Storm Cat), who came from the rear of the field under Ryan Moore to score by three lengths from the English 1,000 Guineas runner-up Lightning Thunder.
“It’s only her third run and you’d have to be very pleased with her,” said Moore. “She had to do it the hard way. She came from a long way back and had to pass nearly the whole field so it was a very pleasing performance. She’s still inexperienced but she picked up when I asked her to. It was deep ground I’m sure she’d be a better filly on a nicer surface.”
Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien told irishracing.com that a trip to Epsom for the G1 Investec Oaks on June 6 could now be on the cards.
“The plan was to come here and then go to Epsom. Obviously the boys will decide what they want to do now,” said O'Brien. “She's a filly we always thought would stay well. I'm delighted. Ryan just let her warm into it and she came home very well. She's a very nice filly.
“I'd imagine she'll definitely get a mile and a quarter the way she went to the line today. Obviously a mile and a half is another step into the unknown but it looked very positive.”
Part-owner John Magnier added: “Aidan fancied her and I don’t think it was that much of a surprise. Her pedigree would indicate that there could be more to come. She’s out of a sister to Giant’s Causeway (You’resothrilling), who won the G2 Cherry Hinton Stakes. She’s bred to get a mile and a half and we’ll see what everyone says in the next few days but I couldn’t see any reason why she couldn’t go for the Oaks.”
Earlier, the five-year-old Noble Mission (5h Galileo-Kind, by Danehill) continued his great season when leading home a G1 1-2 for Galileo in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup when finishing ahead of Magician (4c Galileo-Absolutelyfabulous, by Mozart).
The winner, a Juddmonte home-bred, is a full-brother to Frankel and trained by Lady Cecil at Warren Place Stables in Newmarket.
“It’s a huge win,” said Juddmonte racing manager Lord Grimthorpe. “To win a G1 with Frankel’s brother is a tribute to everyone at Warren Place and it’s huge for Juddmonte. It’s really big for us and a special day.”
Noble Mission put in a front-running performance under James Doyle and Grimthorpe added: “We fell upon the plan at Sandown, it worked at Chester and we thought we’d try it again here. We’ll have to have some thoughts about the future but he’d had four tough races so might need a breather.”
An emotional Lady Cecil added: “I really can't believe it and it just shows that dreams can come true. It's great for all the staff at Warren Place and our big aim was to win a G1 and be able to raise the flag for Henry I'll have to talk to Teddy (Grimthorpe) before deciding where we go next but to be honest we didn't dare think past today. He's in the G1 Eclipse but I'll have to see how he comes out of this.”
There was another 1-2 for Galileo when the Aidan O’Brien-trained Adelaide (3c Galileo-Elletelle, by Elnadim) came home clear of stablemate Mekong River (3c Galileo-Simply Perfect, by Danehill) in the G3 Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes.
Speaking of the winner, O’Brien said: “We were always worried about soft ground with him as he's a lovely moving horse but he's done everything we've asked of him so far.
“He could go to Ascot for the G2 King Edward VII Stakes or there is a chance he could go for the French Derby (G1 Prix du Jockey-Club) next week – although it does come up very soon.”