3 minute read
Son of Galileo snares Prix Foy
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Anthony Van Dyck (4 c Galileo - Believe'n'succeed by Exceed And Excel) landed his first race since his famous victory in the 2019 Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) when he downed the colours of multiple Group 1-winning stayer Stradavarius (Sea The Stars) in the Prix Foy (Gr 2, 2400m) at Longchamp on Sunday.
Anthony Van Dyck showed real guts to stave off the challenge from Stradivarius, eventually beating him by a short-head with Nagano Gold (Sixties Icon) another a length and a quarter away in third. Skyward (Camelot) - who is raced by a partnership that includes John Messara - finished another length and a quarter back in fourth.
The son of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) is out of Australian bred Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Believe'n'succeed, who landed the 2008 edition of the Blue Diamond Prelude (f) (Gr 3, 1100m). Believe'n'succeed was purchased by Tom Magnier at the Magic Millions Patinack Farm Complete Dispersal Sale in 2014 and she has also produced Group 1 winner Bounding (Lonhro).
Believe'n'succeed herself is sister to Ian McEwen Stakes (Gr 2, 1000m) winner and now sire Kuroshio and Listed winner Agulhas.
Further back the colt’s third dam is dual Grade 1 winner November Snow (Storm Cat), the grandam of fellow elite level winner Morning Line (Tiznow).
Moments later at the Curragh it was the Galileo show once again, as his daughter Search For A Song (4 f Galileo - Polished Gem by Danehill) won back-to-back runnings of the Irish St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6f).
Trained by Dermot Weld, who was saddling an across the card Group 1 double having sent out to win the Tarnawa (4 f ex Tarana by Cape Cross) the Prix Vermeille (Gr 1, 2400m) at Longchamp earlier in the afternoon - the daughter of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) came home strongly to beat Fujaira Prince (Pivotal) by two lengths. The Lloyd J Williams-owned Twilight Payment (Teofilo) finished another neck away in third.
Danehill (Danzig) mare Polished Gem, making him a brother to Irish St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6f) winner Search For A Song and Listed scorer Falcon Eight, while he is also a half-brother to another elite level scorer in Free Eagle (High Chaparral), who shuttled to Cornerstone Stud for three seasons.
The mare is out Polished Gem, who is also the dam of three-time Group 2 winner Custom Cut (Notnowcato), Group 2 winner Sapphire (Medicean) and Valac (Dark Angel), who won the SAJC Queens Cup (Gr 3, 2500m) in 2019.
Coolmore Stud-based sire Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) has stood for a private fee since 2008, and he will be represented in Australia this season by his sire sons Adelaide, Churchill and Highland Reel.
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— Equidia (@equidia) September 13, 2020
Anthony Van Dyck (@mickaelbarzalon / Aidan O'Brien) surprend Stradivarius (@FrankieDettori / @SirJohnGosden) dans le Prix Foy (R1C7 - Groupe II). C'est le premier succès pour le jockey français dans cette compétition, le second pour l'entraîneur irlandais. pic.twitter.com/kZxXmBLlKF
