Galileo – Danehill Cross Conquering The World
21-11-2011
TRADITIONALLY the flat racing season in Great Britain and Ireland each year concludes in early November, but in recent years it has been extended through the development of all weather tracks that host lower grade meetings, none of which have stakes.
There are also some racing in the closing weeks of the year in France and Italy, but overall that on the flat is ended. It is followed by a massive jumps season in Great Britain and Ireland that rivals the flat season numerically.
Confirmation that the glory days of flat racing for 2011 is concluded was the announcement in England this week of the Cartier Horse of the Year Awards. As expected the contest for the Cartier Horse of the Year title was a one horse race with the new giant of European racing Frankel careering away with the award, and also that of Champion 3YO Colt.
Europe’s best juvenile last year and likely to be named World Champion at the end of this one, he is unbeaten winner of nine races, five of them Group1s (four at a mile at three).
Trained by Henry Cecil for Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Frankel is a big, strong bay colt possessing an imposing physique who is more brilliant than his immediate pedigree indicates. He is bred on a cross of two Coolmore giants, being by the new European super sire Galileo (by Sadler’s Wells) and from dual listed sprint winner Kind, by Danehill. The grandam is by Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Rainbow Quest.
Both used at Coolmore in Ireland and the Hunter Valley, Galileo and Danehill, benefiting from the big increase in offspring through much bigger books of the current century and their exceptional ability to transmit quality, are formulating a record nick. So far the cross has produced world wide 43 winners (13 stakes winners, including six at Group1 level, seven stakes placed winners),14 other placegetters and15 unplaced.
The Australian sired contribution of progeny got by Galileo over Danehill mares has included 19 winners (6 stakes winners – none in Group races), seven others placed and five unplaced.
Darley, Hunter Valley are currently hosting for the third successive season one of the most brilliant horses bred on the Galileo – Danehill cross in Teofilo (IRE). Due to have first crop yearlings at 2012 sales and represented by 22 first crop 2-year-old winners in Europe this year, Teofilo was unbeaten champion European juvenile in 2006, the only year he raced.
Frankel appears by far the greatest product of his family, but it is very strong back through the generations. Makybe Diva’s Irish Derby winning Danehill sire Desert King is one of the family’s representatives.
Frankel was one of two performers bred on the Galileo – Danehill mare cross rewarded with 2011 Cartier Awards.The other was the Aidan O’Brien (Coolmore) trained Champion 2YO Filly Maybe and she too was unbeaten, winning five races, including one each at Group1, 2 and 3 level in Ireland.
The successes of Frankel and Maybe played good roles in aiding both Galileo (leading sire on earnings) and Danehill (top broodmare sire) to champion European sire titles for 2011. Danehill also had his broodmare money boosted by the efforts of the German 3-year-old filly Danedream (by the Nijinsky grandson Lomitas and from the Danehill mare Danedrop), winner of four major races through the year, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She earned the Cartier Champion 3YO Filly award.
A very significant award as far as Australian is concerned was the naming of 3-year-old Dream Ahead as Cartier Champion European Sprinter as he is booked to be available as a sire next year at Emirates Park, Murrurundi, Hunter Valley.
Second top 2-year-old behind the awesome Frankel last year, one in which he won two Group1s at 1200m, Dream Ahead established himself as a great young sprinter at three, beating older horses in three Group1s, the Newmarket July Cup, Haydock Sprint Cup and Longchamp Prix de la Foret.
He is by Diktat, a Champion Older European Sprinter by Warning, a champion in Europe at two and three, and from Land of Dreams, a Group 2 and 3 sprint winner by Cadeaux Genereux, Champion European Sprinter at three and four.
The other Cartier Champion Awards for 2011 runners went to:
CARTIER OLDER HORSE: Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) (2006), by Ahonoora grandson Even Top and from mare by Seattle Slew sire Septieme Ciel; five wins through year including Ascot Champion Stakes-Gr.1, Deauville Grand Prix de Deauville-Gr.2.
CARTIER STAYER: Fame And Glory (GB), by the Sadler’s Well’s sire Montjeu and from winner by Mill Reef champion Shirley Heights: Four wins, including Ascot Gold Cup-Gr.1 (4000m).
CARTIER 2YO COLT: Dabirsim (FR), only runner in Europe by Kentucky based Sunday Silence champion Japanese miler Hat Trick; unbeaten winner five races in France, including two Group1s.
Courtesy of Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Services
