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Colt lands St Leger and becomes stallion’s first Group 1 winner

The Coolmore Stud-based sire Australia (Galileo) was sent into new heights on Saturday as his son Galileo Chrome (3 c ex Curious Mind by Dansili) put in a brave performance to win the St Leger Stakes (Gr 1, 1m6½f) at Doncaster. 

Trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Tom Marquand, Galileo Chrome came into the race off the back of a victory in the Yeats Stakes (Listed, 1m5f) and although this was a major step up in class he was many people’s idea of the likely winner. 

And he did not let those supporters down, finding more and more with every stride to eventually come away with a neck victory over Berkshire Rocco (Sir Percy), while Pyledriver (Harbour Watch) - who drifted starkly left in the closing stages - finished a further length away in third. 

Marquand - who rode his first Group 1 winner when steering Addeybb (Pivotal) to victory in the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Rosehill in March - was enjoying his first domestic top-flight winner and expressed his delight at the result. 

"It's a dream come true,” said Marquand. “I genuinely feel terrible for Shane. Racing's a great leveller. To pick up a spare ride like this in a British Classic for Joseph O'Brien of all people is incredible.

"He was so tough. He showed a decent turn of foot to pick up through the gaps and to finish the job off through the last furlong, he's exceptionally talented."

Galileo Chrome is one of two winners out of the winning Dansili (Danehill) mare Curious Mind and he is a three-quarter brother to Listed winner and Group 1-placed Michelangelo. 

Curious Mind herself is a half-sister to Listed winner Private Secretary (Kingman). 

Meanwhile further back, the colt’s third dam is Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Last Second (Alzao), the dam of dual elite level winner Aussie Rules (Danehill) and Listed winner Approach (Darshaan), who in turn produced dual Group 1-winning Coronet (Dubawi) and Group 2 winner and Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) and St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6.5f) runner-up Midas Touch (Galileo). 

The colt is bred on the same cross as Listed winner King Carney. 

Australia is the sire of 14 stakes winners in total and he stood at Coolmore Stud’s Irish base for a fee of €27,500 in 2020. 

Galileo Chrome wins the 2020 Pertemps St Leger at @DoncasterRaces for @TomMarquand and @JosephOBrien2! pic.twitter.com/m2Gk0akMlF

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 12, 2020