The success of Galileo (IRE) as a broodmare sire in Australasia continues to gain momentum and it prompted Southern Hemisphere business at Arqana’s December Breeding Stock Sale at Deauville, France.
On Saturday, New Zealand bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne was to the fore in his successful pursuit of female progeny of the Coolmore stallion.
Galileo’s daughters have produced six Group 1 winners in Australia and New Zealand, which include this year alone the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) and the G1 Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock).
Fastnet a Rock
Half of those top-flight winners are by Fastnet Rock and he is the likely first date for Tiberias (FR) (Galileo {Ire}) after Hawthorne and Badgers Bloodstock signed for the 3-year-old for 450,000 euros on the opening day at Arqana.
From the Wertheimer & Frere consignment, the winning Tiberias is a daughter of the Listed winner Stormina (USA) (Gulch {USA}) and a half-sister to G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Silasol (FR) (Monsun {GER}).
The G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Solemia (FR) (Poliglote {FR}) appears under the third dam, as does Coolmore’s Classic winner and young sire The Gurkha (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}).
“We’re looking for some Galileo blood that doesn’t have Danehill blood in it to take back to Australia.” - Dean Hawthorne
“We’re looking for some Galileo blood that doesn’t have Danehill blood in it to take back to Australia,” Hawthorne said.
“Galileo is going very well down there with a variance of sires. We haven’t got many of his mares down there.
“He didn’t spend much time down there himself so we have to come up here to get it, and when we do, we find Danehill is in there somewhere because it’s a magic cross.
“Badger (Grant Pritchard-Gordon) has done a lot of pedigree research for us and we know there’s a lot going on in the family – it’s a family that’s going to thicken.
“She’ll go probably to Fastnet Rock in her first year. He’s getting on, but that’s a wonderful cross.” - Dean Hawthorne
“She’ll go probably to Fastnet Rock in her first year. He’s getting on, but that’s a wonderful cross.
“We have Unforgotten this year who won the Oaks on that cross, and she will need a big physical horse for her first foal.
“She still has a lot of maturing to do, but give her a year down there in the sunshine and she’ll be away.”
Hawthorne and Badgers Bloodstock also secured another Galileo mare free of Danehill earlier in the session, purchasing Emboidered Silk (IRE) for 110,000 euros from the draft of La Motteraye. The unraced 3-year-old is in foal to Caravaggio (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}).
Queensland agent John Foote signed for four lots, his highest-priced acquisition at 220,000 euros for Sawakiyna from the Aga Khan Studs draft.
Star purchase
She is a daughter of Sea The Stars (IRE) (Cape Cross {IRE}) and the G1 Prix Alary winner Sagawara (GB) (Shamardal {USA}).
Another mare heading south is the German stakes performer Clearly (GB) (Invincible Spirit {IRE}) after she was knocked down to Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Speriamo Bloodstock.
She is a half-sister to G1 Sydney Cup winner Polarisation (GB) (Echo Of Light {GB}) from the family of G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Lammtarra (USA) (Nijinsky {CAN}).
“She is an outstanding individual from a tremendous family that any breeder would love to have,” Boman said.
“I have bought her for a new client who is an old friend of mine and operates at Speriamo Bloodstock.
“We will retire her and take her to Australia where her pedigree will prove very popular.” – Stuart Boman.
“We will retire her and take her to Australia where her pedigree will prove very popular.
“She is a half-sister to a horse who in reality won two Sydney Cups seven days apart and Invincible Spirit has had a resurgence Down Under notably though the deeds of I Am Invincible.
“Being free of Danehill blood she should be very easy to mate.”
Six of the best
Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency was also in the market with six purchases, including the 205,000 euro buy Standing Up (FR) Motivator {GB}).
A winner and stakes placed in France, she is from the family of the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and Jean Prat winner Tamayuz (GB) (Nayef {USA}).
Damon Gabbedy
Meanwhile, international agent Paul Moroney bought the winner and German stakes placegetter Leytana (IRE) (Intello {GER}) for 90,000 on behalf of Trelawney Stud.
The filly is a grand-daughter of the G2 Prix de Mallaret winner Another Dancer (FR) (Groom Dancer {USA}) and the family of the G2 Lonsdale Cup winner and G1 Irish St Leger runner-up Ahzeemah (IRE) (Dubawi {IRE}).
Moroney has already successfully bought in Europe for Trelawney with Igraine (GER) (Galileo {IRE}) recently winning the G3 Counties Cup in the stud’s colours.
