Galileo might be 22, but you would never know that looking at racetrack results this year with his progeny continuing their domination of major races wining both the Group I Epsom Derby (1m4f) and Oaks (1m4f) overnight in the UK.
Galileo became the first sire in history to produce five Epsom Derby winners with 25-1 shot Serpentine adding his name to the super sire’s list of Derby heroes Anthony Van Dyck, Australia, Ruler of the Word and New Approach.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Emmet McNamara, Serpentine pressed forward to take up the lead and galloped on strongly in the straight to provide his trainer with an unprecedented eighth Epsom Derby win and his second Classic of the afternoon after his stablemate Love won the Oaks.
Serpentine raced clear to win by five and a half lengths over Khalifa Sat (Free Eagle) and Amhran Na Bhfiann (Galileo) with Atlantic Jewel’s son Russian Emperor finishing seventh.
Unplaced at his only start at two, Serpentine was fifth at his first run of 2020 and then broke his maiden when winning at the Curragh by nine lengths on June 27.
“It's unbelievable really, we always thought he would stay very well. He won at the Curragh last week over a mile and a quarter and Wayne [Lordan] said he galloped right through the line and he couldn't pull him up. I am delighted for the owners as this is obviously another Classic-winning homebred by Galileo,” said Aidan O'Brien.
Serpentine is a full brother to Group winners Wedding Vow, Bye Bye Baby, Beacon Rock and stakes-winner Bound becoming fifth stakes-winner for his dam Remember When, a Group I placed three-quarter sister to European Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas and Group I winner Homecoming Queen.
He is the 317th stakes-winner for Galileo and is his 86th Group I winner.
Serpentine is another example of a great nick between Galileo and Danehill Dancer. He is the 23rd stakes-winner bred this way and the sixth Group I winner, the nick running at nearly 26% stakes-winners to runners.
Galileo also dominated the Epsom Oaks siring the first two home with hot favourite Love turning the race into a procession as she strolled home nine lengths clear of her stablemate Ennistymon.
“She's very special. It's hard to say that you would ever have a filly better than that. We saw what she did in the Guineas and she doubled it today, and it's only her second run of the year. It's amazing really,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“We always thought she'd get a mile and a quarter well and she's by Galileo and has a lovely long stride and sticks her head out and really tries. We were always hopeful the extra distance in the Oaks was going to improve her and Ryan (Moore) gave her a lovely ride.”
A homebred for Coolmore, Love has five wins and two placings from nine starts and is the best of four stakes-winners from Pivotal mare Pikaboo, a three-quarter sister to Group II winner Arabian Gleam and stakes-winner Kimberella.
Pivotal mares have been highly successful when covered by Galileo, that exact cross producing 23 winners from 29 runners highlighted by 12 stakes-winners, six of them Group I winners for an impressive 41% stakes-winners to runners.
