Bush Hill Stud News: Gr1 Winners For Galileo and Fastnet Rock
Exciting news emerged yesterday as Galileo and Fastnet Rock each produced Gr1 winners yesterday in the UK, including a Gr1 place for Flying The Flag’s full sister, Rhododendrum.
Rhododendrum, a full sister by Galileo to Flying The Flag who recently won the Gr2 Debutante, finished just three quarters of a length off the winner by Fastnet Rock – the latter the sire of Bush Hill Stud’s Curved Ball in the Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh. What is interesting to note is that Galileo had a strong had in all three past the post of the Gr1 – an extraordinary feat for the world champion stallion. The winner Intricately is out of a Galileo mare In The Realm – whilst the second placed horse Hydrangea shares the same sire and broodmare sire as Rhododendrum – both by Galileo out of Pivotal mares. Intricately was the first Gr1 winner for Joseph ‘O Brien.
Galileo added a Gr1 victory in addition to the day as the sire of Churchill in the Gr1 National Stakes at the Curragh.
Curved Ball’s first crop are now three year olds this year, with only 12 appearing on the tracks as juveniles, three were winners and 18 places – many of his progeny will only be stepping onto the tracks this year as three year olds and the reports from trainers are bullish about his progeny’s prospects – with several trainers returning each year to sales and purchasing the stock of Curved Ball after seeing the ability of his babies on the tracks at home. Curved Ball won the Gr2 Dingaans and has been hailed as the best horse ever trained by Charles Laird.
Flying The Flag has begun covering his first mares this season and the breeders are reporting that the Group winning son of Galileo has taken to his new job like a professional. Out of Triple Gr1 winning mare Halfway To Heaven, Flying The Flag stands for a fee of R20 000 this season. Flying The Flag is Gr1 placed in Dubai, Gr2 runner-up at 2, Gr3 winner at 3, and competed in French 2000 Guineas, Irish 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby.
This is the immediate damline of great stallions Stravinsky and Verglas.
Contact Bush Hill Stud for more information either at bushhillstud@futurenet.co.za or Warwick on 082 872 7799.
