Galileo (IRE)
March 30, 1998 – July 10, 2021
Sadler’s Wells (USA) x Urban Sea (USA), by Miswaki (USA)
Family 9-h
March 30, 1998 – July 10, 2021
Sadler’s Wells (USA) x Urban Sea (USA), by Miswaki (USA)
Family 9-h
With the greatest living stallion in Europe for his sire and a winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) for his dam, much was expected from Galileo from the moment he drew his first breath. He did not disappoint. A champion on the race course, he assumed his sire’s mantle in the stallion barn, becoming the most prolific sire of Grade/Group 1 winners in Thoroughbred history and a horse whose influence in international breeding has been profound.
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$2,250,614 (includes converted earnings from England and Ireland)
2001:
Honors
Cartier Award, European champion 3-year-old male (2001)
Assessments
Rated at 106 pounds on the International Classifications for European-raced juveniles of 2000, 17 pounds below highweighted Minardi.
Earned a final Timeform rating of 134 pounds at 3.
Highweighted on the International Classifications of 2001 for 3-year-old turf males at 129 pounds over 1900m–2000m and at 128 pounds over 2200m–2400m.
As an individual
A beautifully balanced, correct, masculine bay horse standing 16.0½ hands, Galileo stayed as far as he was asked to go. His only unplaced finish was in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), where he failed to quicken over the dirt and ended up sixth. A horse with a keen competitive spirit, he was also willing to try anything reasonable that a human asked of him and sometimes a little more, often causing minor setbacks in his training after he did too much during a workout. As a stallion he was characterized as “a gentleman.”
As a stallion
Galileo consistently transmitted his competitiveness and wilingness, As of May 14, 2023, he has sired 362 stakes winners and the earners of over US$304 million. He has been extremely effective with Storm Cat mares and has also worked well with the Danzig line, particularly through Danehill.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Adelaide (IRE), Alandi (IRE), Alice Springs (IRE), Allegretto (IRE), Altano (GER), Anthony Van Dyck (IRE), Australia (GB), Ballydoyle (IRE), Bolshoi Ballet (IRE), Cape Blanco (IRE), Cape of Good Hope (IRE), Capri (IRE), Celestial Halo (IRE), Churchill (IRE), Cima de Triomphe (IRE), Circus Maximus (IRE), Clemmie (IRE), Content (IRE), Curvy (GB), Deauville (IRE), Decorated Knight (GB), Empress Josephine (IRE), Flag of Honour (IRE), Forever Together (IRE), Found (IRE), Foundry (IRE), Frankel (GB), Galikova (FR), Gleneagles (IRE), Golden Lilac (IRE), Great Heavens (GB), Happily (IRE), Hermosa (IRE), Highland Reel (IRE), Hydrangea (IRE), Igugu (AUS), Imperial Monarch (IRE), Intello (GER), Jan Brueghel (IRE), Japan (GB), Joan of Arc (IRE), Johannes Vermeer (IRE), Kew Gardens (IRE), Kingsbarns (IRE), Kyprios (IRE), Lily of the Valley (FR), Line of Duty (IRE), Linton (AUS), Love (IRE), Lush Lashes (GB), Magic Attitude (GB), Magic Wand (IRE), Magical (IRE), Magical Lagoon (IRE), Magician (IRE), Mahbooba (AUS), Marvellous (IRE), Maybe (IRE), Minding (IRE), Misty for Me (IRE), Mogul (GB), Mondialiste (IRE), Nathaniel (IRE), New Approach (IRE), Nightime (IRE), Niwot (AUS), Noble Mission (GB), Order of St. George (IRE), Peaceful (IRE), Photo Call (IRE), Proud and Regal (IRE), Red Rocks (IRE), Rhett Butler (IRE), Rhododendron (IRE), Rip Van Winkle (IRE), Roderic O’Connor (IRE), Romantica (GB), Ruler of the World (IRE), Russian Emperor (IRE), Sans Frontieres (IRE), Savethelastdance (IRE), Search for a Song (IRE), Serpentine (IRE), Seventh Heaven (IRE), Seville (GER), Shale (IRE), Sixties Icon (GB), Soldier of Fortune (IRE), Sousa (NZ), Sovereign (IRE), Supasundae (GB), Tapestry (IRE), Teofilo (IRE), The Gurkha (IRE), The United States (IRE), Together (IRE), Together Forever (IRE), Treasure Beach (GB), Tuesday (IRE), Ulysses (IRE), Waldgeist (GB), Warm Heart (IRE), Was (IRE), Windsor Park (IRE), Winter (IRE)
Notable progeny of daughters
Above the Curve (USA), Age of Fire (AUS), Al Riffa (FR), Angel Bleu (FR), Auguste Rodin (IRE), City of Troy (USA), Commissioning (IRE), Continuous (JPN), Danyah (IRE), Figureti (CHI), Full Count Felicia (USA), Galileo Gold (GB), Ghaiyyath (IRE), Green With Envy (SAF), Helene Leadingstar (AUS), Henry Longfellow (IRE), Intricately (IRE), Ionosfera (CHI), Leslie's Rose (USA), Magna Grecia (IRE), Marhaba Ya Sanafi (IRE), Night of Thunder (IRE), Personal (IRE), Pizza Bianca (USA), Qualify (IRE), Rivet (IRE), Roly Poly (USA), Saxon Warrior (JPN), Shaquille (GB), Snapdancer (AUS), Snowfall (JPN), Sottsass (FR), St Mark’s Basilica (FR), The Autumn Sun (AUS), U S Navy Flag (USA), Unforgotten (AUS), Via Sistina (IRE), Zhukova (IRE)
Connections
Galileo was bred by David Tsui and the Coolmore breeding group Orpendale and raced in the names of Coolmore associates Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien and was regularly ridden by Michael Kinane, who had the mount in seven of the horse’s eight starts. Galileo entered stud at Coolmore Ireland in 2002 and remained there throughout his Northern Hemisphere stallion career; he also shuttled to Coolmore Australia until 2012. He was euthanized in July 2021 due to a debilitating chronic foot injury.
Pedigree notes
Galileo is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. He is a full brother to multiple European Group 1 winner Black Sam Bellamy and to 2005 Middleton Stakes (ENG-G3) winner All Too Beautiful, dam of multiple Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Wonder of Wonders (by Kingmambo) and second dam of 2020 W. S. Cox Plate (AUS-G1) winner Sir Dragonet. He is a half brother to 2009 European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars (by Cape Cross), 2007 Diana Stakes (USA-G1) winner My Typhoon (by Giant’s Causeway), 1999 Gallinule Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Urban Ocean (by Bering), and Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Born to Sea (by Invincible Spirit). Galileo is also a half brother to multiple Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Melikah (by Lammtarra), dam of French Group 2 winner Masterstroke (by Monsun), Group 3 winners Moonlight Magic (by Cape Cross) and Royal Line (by Dubawi), and listed English stakes winner Hidden Gold (by Shamardal). Melikah is also the second dam of 2011 UAE Derby (UAE-G2) and UAE Oaks (UAE-G3) winner Khawlah and French Group 2 winner Vancouverite and is the third dam of multiple English Group 3 winner Masar. Finally, Galileo is a half brother to Group 3-placed Cherry Hinton (by Green Desert), dam of 2014 Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Bracelet (by Montjeu), 2018 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Athena (by Camelot), English Group 2 winner Wading (by Montjeu), and Irish Group 3 winner Goddess (by Camelot), and second dam of English Group 2 winner Just Wonderful.
Galileo and his siblings are out of 1993 CIGA Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) winner Urban Sea, a half sister to 2000 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner King's Best (by Kingmambo). Urban Sea is also a half sister to French Group 3 winer Allez Les Trois (by Riverman), dam of 2001 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner Anabaa Blue (by Anabaa) and English listed stakes winners Reunite (by Kingmambo) and Measured Tempo (by Sadler's Wells); second dam of multiple French Group 1 winner Tamayuz and Group 3 winners Aboulie, Half Light, and Impulsif; and third dam of Irish Group 2 winner Mustajeeb. In addition, Urban Sea is a half sister to Anzille (by Plugged Nickle), dam of 2001 Deutchland-Preis (GER-G1) winner Anzillero (by Law Society), and to stakes-placed Turbaine (by Trempolino), dam of Group 3 winners Tertullian (by Miswaki) and Terek (by Irish River) and Irish listed stakes winner Tusculum (by Sadler's Wells), second dam of German Group 2 winner Tusked Wings, and third dam of 2020 Grosser Preis von Berlin (GER-G1) winner Torquator Tasso. Finally, Urban Sea is a half sister to Altruiste (by Diesis), dam of French Group 2 winner Terrubi (by Dalakhani) and French listed stakes winner Alpine Snow (by Verglas) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Armande, and to Saleela (by Nureyev), second dam of 2018 Belgian champion stayer Just Because, Irish Group 2 winner Cayenne Pepper, and South African Group 3 winner Just Cruised In.
Urban Sea and her siblings are out of Group 3-placed Allegretta (by two-time German Horse of the Year Lombard), a full sister to multiple German Group 2 winner Anno and German listed stakes winner Arionette (dam of multiple German stakes winner Andronikus, by Monsun) and to stakes-placed Alya, second dam of 2007 Deutches Derby (GER-G1) winner Adlerflug and German Group 2 winner Arrigo. Allegretta is also a half sister to 1986 Grand Prix Prince Rose (BEL-G1) winner Anatas (by Priamos) and to Amethysta (by Gulf Pearl), dam of German Group 2 winner Apollonios (by Lombard) and second dam of 1992 The Thousand Guineas (AUS-G1) winner Azzurro. Allegretta, in turn, is out of Anatevka (by 1961 Craven Stakes winner Espresso), whose female line traces to Asterblute (by Pharis II), a first-rate filly who won the 1949 Deutches Derby and Preis der Diana.
Books and media
A tribute to Galileo (“Galileo: The Story of the Super-Stallion---In the Words of Aidan O’Brien and MV Magnier” can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptPSjXPxuso.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 14, 2024
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$2,250,614 (includes converted earnings from England and Ireland)
2001:
- Won Vodafone Derby Stakes (ENG-G1, 12FT, Epsom)
- Won Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1, 12FT, The Curragh)
- Won King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (ENG-G1, 12FT, Ascot)
- Won Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (IRE-G3, 10FT, Leopardstown)
- Won Ballysax Stakes (IRE-L, 10FT, Leopardstown)
- 2nd Irish Champion Stakes (IRE-G1, 10FT, Phoenix)
Honors
Cartier Award, European champion 3-year-old male (2001)
Assessments
Rated at 106 pounds on the International Classifications for European-raced juveniles of 2000, 17 pounds below highweighted Minardi.
Earned a final Timeform rating of 134 pounds at 3.
Highweighted on the International Classifications of 2001 for 3-year-old turf males at 129 pounds over 1900m–2000m and at 128 pounds over 2200m–2400m.
As an individual
A beautifully balanced, correct, masculine bay horse standing 16.0½ hands, Galileo stayed as far as he was asked to go. His only unplaced finish was in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), where he failed to quicken over the dirt and ended up sixth. A horse with a keen competitive spirit, he was also willing to try anything reasonable that a human asked of him and sometimes a little more, often causing minor setbacks in his training after he did too much during a workout. As a stallion he was characterized as “a gentleman.”
As a stallion
Galileo consistently transmitted his competitiveness and wilingness, As of May 14, 2023, he has sired 362 stakes winners and the earners of over US$304 million. He has been extremely effective with Storm Cat mares and has also worked well with the Danzig line, particularly through Danehill.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 6th on the Australian broodmare sire list in 2018/19; 7th in 2017/18; 8th in 2019/20.
- Led the English general sire list in 2008, 2010-2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020; 2nd in 2015 and 2018; 4th in 2009; 6th in 2021; 9th in 2022 and 2023.
- Led the English broodmare sire list in 2020-2023; 2nd in 2017-2019; 4th in 2016; 6th in 2015; 7th in 2014.
- Led the English juvenile sire list in 2016.
- Led the French general sire list in 2016 and 2019; 2nd in 2011, 2013, and 2017; 4th in 2018; 5th in 2012 and 2015; 6th in 2014.
- Led the French broodmare sire list in 2020 and 2021; 2nd in 2018, 2022, and 2023; 3rd in 2016; 5th in 2017.
- 2nd on the German broodmare sire list in 2019; 7th in 2009, 2018, and 2020; 10th in 2023.
- Led the Irish general sire list in 2010-2023; 2nd in 2008; 3rd in 2009.
- Led the Irish broodmare sire list in 2018 and 2020-2023; 4th in 2017 and 2019; 5th in 2013 and 2016; 9th in 2014.
- Led the Irish juvenile sire list in 2010-2019.
- 8th on the Italian general sire list in 2020.
- 8th on the Italian broodmare sire list in 2016.
- 9th on the South African general sire list in 2010/11.
- 10th on the South African broodmare sire list in 2023/24.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 7th on the American general sire list in 2019; 10th in 2018.
- 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 2021 and 2023; 7th in 2020; 9th in 2022.
- 3rd on the International sire list in 2016; 5th in 2017 and 2019; 8th in 2014 and 2015
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the combined English/Irish general sire list in 2008 and 2010-2015.
- Led the Irish general sire list in 2008 and 2010-2016.
Notable progeny
Adelaide (IRE), Alandi (IRE), Alice Springs (IRE), Allegretto (IRE), Altano (GER), Anthony Van Dyck (IRE), Australia (GB), Ballydoyle (IRE), Bolshoi Ballet (IRE), Cape Blanco (IRE), Cape of Good Hope (IRE), Capri (IRE), Celestial Halo (IRE), Churchill (IRE), Cima de Triomphe (IRE), Circus Maximus (IRE), Clemmie (IRE), Content (IRE), Curvy (GB), Deauville (IRE), Decorated Knight (GB), Empress Josephine (IRE), Flag of Honour (IRE), Forever Together (IRE), Found (IRE), Foundry (IRE), Frankel (GB), Galikova (FR), Gleneagles (IRE), Golden Lilac (IRE), Great Heavens (GB), Happily (IRE), Hermosa (IRE), Highland Reel (IRE), Hydrangea (IRE), Igugu (AUS), Imperial Monarch (IRE), Intello (GER), Jan Brueghel (IRE), Japan (GB), Joan of Arc (IRE), Johannes Vermeer (IRE), Kew Gardens (IRE), Kingsbarns (IRE), Kyprios (IRE), Lily of the Valley (FR), Line of Duty (IRE), Linton (AUS), Love (IRE), Lush Lashes (GB), Magic Attitude (GB), Magic Wand (IRE), Magical (IRE), Magical Lagoon (IRE), Magician (IRE), Mahbooba (AUS), Marvellous (IRE), Maybe (IRE), Minding (IRE), Misty for Me (IRE), Mogul (GB), Mondialiste (IRE), Nathaniel (IRE), New Approach (IRE), Nightime (IRE), Niwot (AUS), Noble Mission (GB), Order of St. George (IRE), Peaceful (IRE), Photo Call (IRE), Proud and Regal (IRE), Red Rocks (IRE), Rhett Butler (IRE), Rhododendron (IRE), Rip Van Winkle (IRE), Roderic O’Connor (IRE), Romantica (GB), Ruler of the World (IRE), Russian Emperor (IRE), Sans Frontieres (IRE), Savethelastdance (IRE), Search for a Song (IRE), Serpentine (IRE), Seventh Heaven (IRE), Seville (GER), Shale (IRE), Sixties Icon (GB), Soldier of Fortune (IRE), Sousa (NZ), Sovereign (IRE), Supasundae (GB), Tapestry (IRE), Teofilo (IRE), The Gurkha (IRE), The United States (IRE), Together (IRE), Together Forever (IRE), Treasure Beach (GB), Tuesday (IRE), Ulysses (IRE), Waldgeist (GB), Warm Heart (IRE), Was (IRE), Windsor Park (IRE), Winter (IRE)
Notable progeny of daughters
Above the Curve (USA), Age of Fire (AUS), Al Riffa (FR), Angel Bleu (FR), Auguste Rodin (IRE), City of Troy (USA), Commissioning (IRE), Continuous (JPN), Danyah (IRE), Figureti (CHI), Full Count Felicia (USA), Galileo Gold (GB), Ghaiyyath (IRE), Green With Envy (SAF), Helene Leadingstar (AUS), Henry Longfellow (IRE), Intricately (IRE), Ionosfera (CHI), Leslie's Rose (USA), Magna Grecia (IRE), Marhaba Ya Sanafi (IRE), Night of Thunder (IRE), Personal (IRE), Pizza Bianca (USA), Qualify (IRE), Rivet (IRE), Roly Poly (USA), Saxon Warrior (JPN), Shaquille (GB), Snapdancer (AUS), Snowfall (JPN), Sottsass (FR), St Mark’s Basilica (FR), The Autumn Sun (AUS), U S Navy Flag (USA), Unforgotten (AUS), Via Sistina (IRE), Zhukova (IRE)
Connections
Galileo was bred by David Tsui and the Coolmore breeding group Orpendale and raced in the names of Coolmore associates Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien and was regularly ridden by Michael Kinane, who had the mount in seven of the horse’s eight starts. Galileo entered stud at Coolmore Ireland in 2002 and remained there throughout his Northern Hemisphere stallion career; he also shuttled to Coolmore Australia until 2012. He was euthanized in July 2021 due to a debilitating chronic foot injury.
Pedigree notes
Galileo is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. He is a full brother to multiple European Group 1 winner Black Sam Bellamy and to 2005 Middleton Stakes (ENG-G3) winner All Too Beautiful, dam of multiple Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Wonder of Wonders (by Kingmambo) and second dam of 2020 W. S. Cox Plate (AUS-G1) winner Sir Dragonet. He is a half brother to 2009 European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars (by Cape Cross), 2007 Diana Stakes (USA-G1) winner My Typhoon (by Giant’s Causeway), 1999 Gallinule Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Urban Ocean (by Bering), and Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Born to Sea (by Invincible Spirit). Galileo is also a half brother to multiple Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Melikah (by Lammtarra), dam of French Group 2 winner Masterstroke (by Monsun), Group 3 winners Moonlight Magic (by Cape Cross) and Royal Line (by Dubawi), and listed English stakes winner Hidden Gold (by Shamardal). Melikah is also the second dam of 2011 UAE Derby (UAE-G2) and UAE Oaks (UAE-G3) winner Khawlah and French Group 2 winner Vancouverite and is the third dam of multiple English Group 3 winner Masar. Finally, Galileo is a half brother to Group 3-placed Cherry Hinton (by Green Desert), dam of 2014 Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Bracelet (by Montjeu), 2018 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Athena (by Camelot), English Group 2 winner Wading (by Montjeu), and Irish Group 3 winner Goddess (by Camelot), and second dam of English Group 2 winner Just Wonderful.
Galileo and his siblings are out of 1993 CIGA Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) winner Urban Sea, a half sister to 2000 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner King's Best (by Kingmambo). Urban Sea is also a half sister to French Group 3 winer Allez Les Trois (by Riverman), dam of 2001 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner Anabaa Blue (by Anabaa) and English listed stakes winners Reunite (by Kingmambo) and Measured Tempo (by Sadler's Wells); second dam of multiple French Group 1 winner Tamayuz and Group 3 winners Aboulie, Half Light, and Impulsif; and third dam of Irish Group 2 winner Mustajeeb. In addition, Urban Sea is a half sister to Anzille (by Plugged Nickle), dam of 2001 Deutchland-Preis (GER-G1) winner Anzillero (by Law Society), and to stakes-placed Turbaine (by Trempolino), dam of Group 3 winners Tertullian (by Miswaki) and Terek (by Irish River) and Irish listed stakes winner Tusculum (by Sadler's Wells), second dam of German Group 2 winner Tusked Wings, and third dam of 2020 Grosser Preis von Berlin (GER-G1) winner Torquator Tasso. Finally, Urban Sea is a half sister to Altruiste (by Diesis), dam of French Group 2 winner Terrubi (by Dalakhani) and French listed stakes winner Alpine Snow (by Verglas) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Armande, and to Saleela (by Nureyev), second dam of 2018 Belgian champion stayer Just Because, Irish Group 2 winner Cayenne Pepper, and South African Group 3 winner Just Cruised In.
Urban Sea and her siblings are out of Group 3-placed Allegretta (by two-time German Horse of the Year Lombard), a full sister to multiple German Group 2 winner Anno and German listed stakes winner Arionette (dam of multiple German stakes winner Andronikus, by Monsun) and to stakes-placed Alya, second dam of 2007 Deutches Derby (GER-G1) winner Adlerflug and German Group 2 winner Arrigo. Allegretta is also a half sister to 1986 Grand Prix Prince Rose (BEL-G1) winner Anatas (by Priamos) and to Amethysta (by Gulf Pearl), dam of German Group 2 winner Apollonios (by Lombard) and second dam of 1992 The Thousand Guineas (AUS-G1) winner Azzurro. Allegretta, in turn, is out of Anatevka (by 1961 Craven Stakes winner Espresso), whose female line traces to Asterblute (by Pharis II), a first-rate filly who won the 1949 Deutches Derby and Preis der Diana.
Books and media
A tribute to Galileo (“Galileo: The Story of the Super-Stallion---In the Words of Aidan O’Brien and MV Magnier” can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptPSjXPxuso.
Fun facts
- Galileo is named after the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, best known for his championing of the Copernican heliocentric model of the Solar System against the earth-centered Ptolomaic model then held as dogma by the Catholic Church.
- In 2020, Galileo broke the centuries-old record for sires of winners of England’s classic Derby Stakes when his son Serpentine won, following New Approach (2008), Ruler of the World (2013), Australia (2014), and Anthony Van Dyck (2019). The previous record of four Derby winners was set by Sir Peter Teazle in 1806 and was tied by Waxy in 1815, by Cyllene in 1912, by Blandford in 1935, and by Montjeu in 2012.
- In March 2021, Galileo was reportedly valued at £180 million, the highest valuation ever assigned to any Thoroughbred.
- On August 22, 2024, Galileo got his 100th Grade/Group 1 winner when his daughter Content won the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks (ENG-G1).
Last updated: September 14, 2024