Galileo's Cape Of Good Hope Strikes Early for the Imports

Mark Smith - Saturday October 12

The great Galileo is now just one Group 1 winner behind Danehill after Coolmore's royally-bred Cape Of Good Hope (IRE) made a winning Australian debut when edging out a rejuvenated Black Heart Bart in Saturday's $1,000,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes (Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

The brother to Swettenham Stud's 6-time Group 1 winner Highland Reel made his previous start in America when third in the Saratoga Derby back on August 4.

Advertisement

Trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig and ridden by Mark Zahra, Cape Of Good Hope defeated Black Heart Bart by a short-half-head with Harlem one and a half lengths back in third with the short-priced favourite Avilius back in fourth. (images Grant Courtney)


A 3yo in the northern hemisphere, Cape Of Good Hope had some useful form in Europe including a win in the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, placings in the Group II Superlative Stakes at Newmarket and Group II Royal Lodge Stakes on the same track and a fourth in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly won by Sottsass.

David Hayes said he needed some convincing to purchase an interest in Cape Of Good Hope.

"A real thank you to (Coolmore advisor) Paul Shanahan because he actually pushed me into the horse, made me buy it," David Hayes said.

"We've never been more happy with a horse coming through, he looks a true WFA horse, and a special thank you to Gary Fennessy who has been living with the horse for the past six or seven weeks, living the high life at Newmarket.

"We copied the Criterium programme and it has paid off again.

"We kept him really lightly trained at Werribee because last season there were a few horses went wrong there and he is a big investment and I thought if he didn't run well he could improve by stepping the work up but I think we will be keeping the work the same going in to the Cox Plate.

"He's got probably one of the better pedigrees in the world so we thought the Cox Plate and the Mackinnon were his two main aims and this was a nice warm up race.

"Now he's a Group 1 winner by the best sire in the world with the best female family, it's a one dam page with Highland Reel in the first dam so we've got something to work with."

Cape Of Good Hope (IRE) is one of five winners from as many to race out of Danehill's Group 1 SAJC South Australian Oaks runner-up Hveger who is a sister to Elvstroem and a half-sister to Haradasun out of the grand broodmare Circles of Gold.

Advertisment
More Reading...
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets Inglis Weanling Sale Alight
The first session of the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale on Monday produced a new overall record price for this sale when a filly by Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside sold for $650,000.
Galileo's Southern France Powers to Victory in Zipping Classic
Saturday’s $300,000 Group II Quayclean Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown may have been an afterthought for Southern France (IRE) after failing in the Melbourne Cup but the highly regarded son of Galileo gave fans a taste of his undoubted ability.
Magical and Kew Gardens Shine for Galileo on Champions Day at Ascot
The wonderfully courageous Magical in the Group 1 Champion Stakes and a resurgent Kew Gardens overturning the seemingly unbeatable Stradivarius in a thrilling Group II British Champions Long Distance Cup, completed another magnificent season for the champion Galileo on Champions Day at Ascot.
Westbury Stud Announce 2025 Fees
Westbury Stud is pleased to announce the 2025 service fees for its high performing stallion roster, providing breeders with an accessible source of proven bloodlines at excellent value.
80th Group 1 winner for Galileo and First for Remarkable BroodmareShastye
There have been few mares to match the deeds in the sale ring of Newsells Park Stud’s stakes-placed Danehill mare Shastye.
One to Watch – Curragh
He’s a Coolmore homebred blueblood, but sired by Darley’s champion stallion Dubawi and Officer opened his stakes account overnight at The Curragh winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1m).
Have You Ever Seen Domination Like This?
For the eighth time that in his wonderful career, Galileo supplied the first three home in a Group 1, but that was not the end of his domination of the opening day of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown on Saturday.
100th National Yearling Sale to Debut New Format
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales in New Zealand, a significant milestone to celebrate.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.