3 minute read
Serpentine hands Galileo his 86th Group 1 winner
The Coolmore superstar stallion Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) sired his 86th Group 1 winner on Saturday, but it was not with horse many were expecting, as his son Serpentine (3 c ex Remember When by Danehill Dancer) emulated the stallion’s 2001 victory in the Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f), handing the unmatched sire with his fifth winner of the race.
Galileo’s extraordinary exploits as a stallion are well documented, but today signalled another first for the son of Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer), siring the winner of the Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) - with Love earlier in the afternoon - and Derby in the same year - a feat he has never achieved before.
Ridden by Emmet McNamara, the colt, who broke his maiden on his previous start at the Curragh on June 27, was sent straight to the front and had already made ten lengths to the field as they entered the home straight.
The writing was on the wall as Serpentine entered the final furlong, galloping away to beat Khalifa Sat (Free Eagle) by five and a half lengths with Amhran Na Bhfiann (Galileo) another half a length away in third. The 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) finished another nose away in fourth.
"I think I got a little bit of a freebie really,” said McNamara. “I had a huge amount of confidence in the horse having spoken to Aidan during the week, he said he thought the horse would stay a mile and six furlongs well.
"He told me to give him a breather around the six-furlong mark and then to keep building to that winning post because the horse would keep going, thank god he was right.
"I couldn't see a thing around me and I didn't really want to be looking so I wasn't aware of how far clear I was. It's surreal to have won this race, I can't believe it."
Despite the shock victory, Serpentine is bred to excel over the extended trip, being by Galileo and out of Remember When (Danehill Dancer) - who finished second in the Oaks.
Remember When has only been bred to Galileo, which has produced four other stakes winners in Group 2 winner Wedding Vow, Group 3 scorers Bye Bye Baby (Galileo) and Beacon Rock and Listed winner Bound.
Remember When herself is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Dylan Thomas (Danehill) and fellow elite level winner Queen’s Logic (Grand Lodge), who in turn is the dam of dual Group 2-winning mare Lady Of The Desert (Rahy) - the dam of Lowther Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) winner Queen Kindly (Frankel).
Remember When also counts 2012 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Homecoming Queen (Holy Roman Emperor) as her other half-sibling.
Galileo has left an indelible mark on the Derby, with his first son to win the race being New Approach in 2008, while his next came in the form of Ruler Of The World, who landed the race in 2013, which he followed up the following year with Australia. The stallion also sired last year’s winner of the race in Anthony Van Dyck, while he is also the grandsire of 2018 winner Masar (New Approach).
The Galileo / Danehill Dancer cross has proved to be a successful one, producing 22 stakes winners and Serpentine becomes the sixth elite level bred on the cross, joining Minding, Circus Maximus, Alice Springs, The Gurkha and Sovereign.
The son of Sadler's Wells (Northern Dancer), who has stood for a private fee since 2008, will be represented in Australia this season by his sire sons Adelaide, Churchill and Highland Reel.
Serpentine lands the @Investec Derby with a spectacular front running performance delivering @emmet_mac a first Derby win and an Oaks/Derby double for Aidan O'Brien, @Ballydoyle #TheSupremeTest #InvestecDerbyDay pic.twitter.com/4ImJUR1jto
— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) July 4, 2020
