Yesterday's Epsom Derby was something else, indeed. Dawn Approach was heavily favored; most people thought he could get the trip and there were Triple Crown aspirations in the air. When the gates opened, however, fate dealt its heavy hand. The chestnut son of New Approach tugged and chomped at the bit, begging to run, expending himself. For more than half of the twelve furlong race, the favorite was rank. Finally, his rider allowed him his head and he stormed to the front. His backers crossed their fingers, hoping the Guineas winner could stay the trip after so much trouble. But when Duke of Marengo came back at him, he folded immediately. Dawn Approach faded to the rear of the field; Coolmore's Ruler of the World came on to snatch victory.
Ruler of the World is handsomely bred, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and Cartier champion Duke of Marmalade. His female family is steeped in American tradition - his third dam, Lassie Dear, sparked a lineage that produced classic winners A.P. Indy, Lemon Drop Kid, and Summer Squall. His pedigree was a lovely mix of bloodlines from both sides of the Atlantic.
The Derby winner's sire is Galileo, but that fact doesn't make Ruler of the World anything special. In fact, eight out of the twelve runners in the Derby were directly related to the sire, and five of them were sired by him. Galileo has indeed become the monarch of Europe, and while his son's name is fitting, it suits the grand stallion much more.
A good sire, for the most part, comes from stellar bloodlines, and Galileo is no exception. His sire is Sadler's Wells, who is to Europe much like what Storm Cat is to America. Besides Galileo, his get includes sires Montjeu, Perfect Soul, and High Chapparal, as well as great stakes winners Powerscourt and Yeats. In America, his son El Prado produced Medaglia D'oro, who is one of the best sires around today. While he is very much a sire of sires, Sadler's Wells has also produced some great fillies, including Salsabil, the 1990 Irish Derby winner. His influence as a broodmare sire is also acutely felt; he's been near the top of broodmare sire lists for years.
That's only half of the puzzle. Galileo's dam, Urban Sea, was an elite racemare. Her biggest victory came in the prestigious Arc de Triomphe, beating the males. She evolved into an excellent broodmare; her name is gold in the breeding industry. She deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as mares like Mumtaz Mahal and La Troienne. Urban Sea is certainly one of the best producers of our time. Besides Galileo, her greatest claim to fame is her son Sea the Stars, a six time Grade 1 winner that has been touted as one of the best in recent years. His first crop of foals is due to race this year. Galileo's half brother, Black Sam Bellamy, was a good racehorse but couldn't produce foals up to the caliber of his famous family. Urban Sea has also produced several daughters, the greatest of which is My Typhoon, a multiple graded stakes winner. She also boasts Grade 1 placed Melikah, who in turned produced stakes winner Masterstroke.
Galileo became a terrific racehorse. He won the Epsom Derby in the second-fastest time in its long history, then went on to win the Irish Derby as well. In the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he defeated the great older horse Fantastic Light, but his rival got the better of him at ten furlongs in the Irish Champion Stakes. Nevertheless, Galileo retired as a European three year-old champion, with a very good Timeform rating of 134.
If Galileo as a racehorse was stunning, the horse's stud career has been awe-inspiring. He has become the king of Coolmore's formidable stud operation, which is saying something, considering they boast sires like Danehill Dancer, Fastnet Rock and Giant's Causeway. On their website, they list their sires with short blurbs about their accomplishments. Most give some detail; Galileo's is short, almost laconic, but rings so true - "Probably the best sire in the world."
He was very well supported by his owner, as all of their sires are. He started producing winners right away. Among the members of his first crop are Sixties Icon, a St. Leger winner, and Red Rocks, who traveled to America to win the 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf and to hand the mighty Curlin a defeat in his only turf start in 2008. The results just kept getting better and better for Galileo. Next came Irish Derby winner Soldier of Fortune, and the top-class colt Rip Van Winkle followed. He was becoming one of the most sought-after sires in the world. American Turf Eclipse winner Cape Blanco flew his sire's flag proudly, as did Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach and multiple graded stakes winner Nathaniel.
The horse who really set Galileo's name in stone forever, though, was Frankel. The compact bay colt captured the imaginations of millions of people, winning races with such brilliance and ease. He could do anything. His most famous race will always remain the 2000 Guineas, where he rocketed to the front and took the lead by many lengths, easily batting away the closers to remain on top. Most of Frankel's successes came at a mile, but at ten furlongs, he handed St. Nicholas Abbey and Cirrus Des Aigles defeats. Those two names ring familiar as two of the best horses in the world, and he handled them easily. Frankel, who now stands at stud, was a monster. A horse of his caliber won't be seen again for a very long time. The champion colt, who was assigned history's highest Timeform rating of 147, not only etched his name into history books but his proven sire's name as well.
Galileo's fee is listed as private, but you're sure to pay a huge price if you want to breed to the elite stallion. Still, his name is popping up everywhere in Europe's pedigrees, not only as a sire, but as a grandsire and a broodmare sire. His son New Approach, as previously mentioned, produced this year's 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach as well as a handful of other nice stakes winners, including the Oaks winner, Talent. Galileo has become the most influential sire on a continent known for good breeding. That lineage is spreading - Cape Blanco stands in the United States, and there's even a son of Galileo standing in China.
When Ruler of the World crossed the finish line ahead of Libertarian and Galileo Rock, many astute eyes did not fail to notice the similarities there. Ruler of the World and Galileo Rock - sired by Galileo. Libertarian and the failed favorite Dawn Approach - grandsons of Galileo. Even Chopin, the first German horse to compete in an Epsom Derby, was out of a mare by Galileo. This year's Epsom Derby not only showcased the best three year-old colts in Europe, it also put on display the extreme success of bloodlines sparked by Galileo, the son of champions.
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