A first stakes winner for Galileo Gold! With an impressive success in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown Park on Thursday evening, Ebro River fired Galileo Gold on to the stakes scoresheet - a fitting outcome considering the colt represents the same connections as his Classic-winning sire, namely Al Shaqab Racing and Hugo Palmer.
He was also bred here at Tally-Ho Stud.
As such, Galileo Gold becomes the first freshman sire of 2021 to be represented by a stakes winner.
Well fancied following his smooth success at Doncaster, Ebro River was covered up on the rail by James Doyle as Little Earl cut out the running. The winner could be seen travelling notably well as the field entered the final two furlongs and once given the office, quickened away like a smart horse. Despite hanging to his left, Ebro River won so easily that come the line he had three-and-a-quarter lengths to spare over Little Earl.
The National Stakes boasts a fine history and the Racing Post were impressed, commenting: ”It’s not hard to see him going well in whatever he turns up in at Royal Ascot, with a bit of cover likely in a big field. His rider mentioned the Coventry, over the extra furlong, but if there's cut in the ground sticking to this trip could be the best move.”
James Doyle added: “Ebro River is quick and travels very easily. The Coventry is generally the race you want to win. It's a stiff track but if we can iron out the creases in the early part of the race, the six furlongs should be no problem. He's super talented and has a great turn of foot.”
Ebro River was bred at Tally-Ho out of Soft Power, a winning Balmont half-sister to the dam of top sprinter Slade Power. He is the second winner out of the mare and was purchased by Charlie Gordon-Watson and Al Shaqab Racing for 75,000gns out of the Tally-Ho draft at Book 2 of last year's Tattersalls October Sale.
Galileo Gold was trained by Hugo Palmer to win five races including the Group 2 Vintage Stakes as a two-year-old and the Group 1 2,000 Guineas and St. James's Palace Stakes at three.
He was the leading first-crop sire by average at the recent Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in Doncaster on a figure of £68,875 - his stock included a colt out of York Express, for whom Armando Duarte went to a joint sale-topping £210,000 on behalf of Ling Bloodstock.
In addition to Ebro River, his first crop includes Monday’s impressive scorer Oscula.
Galileo Gold stands for €5,000.
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