It is now 24 years since the great Aidan O’Brien-trained Galileo claimed the 2001 edition of the Epsom Derby in magnificent style. Impressive as that 3½l verdict over Golan was, few would have predicted that the brilliant winner would continue to exert such a strong influence on the Epsom Classic in 2025.
During his second career in the breeding sheds, Galileo progressed from a solid start to become arguably the greatest sire of all time. No sire has produced more European Group race winners; and his progeny have claimed all five British Classics, whilst, in 2016, he remarkably sired the first, second, and third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. No modern-day sire even comes close to matching the prolific output of the Coolmore legend.
Excellent at Epsom
Fittingly, given his performance at Epsom, Galileo is also the leading sire in the history of the Derby, having produced New Approach, Ruler Of The World, Australia, Anthony Van Dyck, and Serpentine to land the Blue Riband event of the British turf season.
With Galileo’s final crop numbering only 13, there appeared to be only a slim chance that the mighty stallion would register a sixth Derby success. That remains the case, but a slim chance is better than no chance. Ahead of the 2025 Derby, two of Galileo’s final three-year-old sons maintain their place on the list of entries. Could one of the following duo provide a fitting exclamation mark to a brilliant stud career?
- Last Galileo – Out of the Group winning sprinter Bye Bye Birdie, this aptly named bay made an encouraging start to life at the track. Second on debut at Redcar, the Karl Burke-trained runner went one better when stepped up to a mile at Ayr. However, that narrow success came down at Class 5 level, and he will need to improve significantly to threaten in the biggest Classic of them all
- Lombardi Trophy – Hailing from the Donnacha O’Brien operation, Lombardi Trophy is out of the Listed winning mare, Chanting, and a full brother to Easter Lily, who also scored in Listed company. That’s an appealing pedigree, but he will need to surpass the exploits of both his dam and sibling to score at Epsom in June
Dominant Amongst the Dams
With Last Galileo and Lombardi Trophy yet to produce anything approaching Classic- winning form, the duo are among the outsiders for the 2025 Epsom Derby. If Galileo’s pedigree page is to receive a posthumous boost, it may be more likely to come from the dam side of the pedigree.
Of the 90 runners remaining in the Derby, no fewer than 22 are out of a Galileo-sired dam, with the following trio, in particular, likely to draw the attention of punters.
- Expanded – Hailing from the yard of Aidan O’Brien, this Wootton Basset colt scored on debut at the Curragh and finished second in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on only his second career outing
- Green Impact – Also by Wootton Basset, this Jessica Harrington runner won two of three starts at two, including the Group 2 Champion Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown
- Officer – By super sire Dubawi and out of the Group 1-winning Galileo mare, Hydrangea, Officer makes plenty of appeal on paper. Successful at the Curragh on his only start at two, there may well be more to come in 2025 from this regally bred sort
Sire of Sires
If the Derby doesn’t fall to a Galileo-sired colt or one of the 22 runners out of a Galileo mare, the sire extraordinaire still has hope of striking as a grandsire. Thirteen of the remaining runners are sired by a son of Galileo, consisting of nine Frankel colts and one apiece for Nathaniel, Circus Maximus, Australia, and Ulysses. Of those 13, the market suggests that the following trio may be most likely to prevail.
- Damysus – Going in the colours of Wathnan Racing, this Frankel colt is out of the mare Legerete, who scored in Group 2 company over 1m4f. Raced only once in 2024, he created a favourable impression with a cosy success at Southwell
- Sallaal – By Frankel and out of the dual Group 1-winning mare Nahrain, Sallaal is another to set the pedigree pulse racing. A perfect one from one as a juvenile, he also holds entries for the English and Irish 2000 Guineas
- Galveston – By Frankel and out of the relatively unheralded dam Bizzarria, Galveston appeared in need of the experience on debut at Naas. However, that is far from unusual for an Aidan O’Brien runner, and he duly stepped up to post a tenacious success next time out
The sire of two runners, damsire of 22, and grandsire of a further 13, Galileo has a close link with 37 of the remaining 90 entries. Not bad for a horse who won the race 24 years ago and passed away before any of this year’s field were born.
