Multiple Group One-winning racehorse Kyprios has been retired. The decision was made owing to an aggravation of an old ringbone lesion, which he picked up winning the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown for a third time this month.

The seven-year-old won 17 of his 21 starts, including two Gold Cups at Royal Ascot, in 2022 and 2024, becoming the third horse in history to regain victory in this race. The 2024 victory was all the more impressive given that Kyprios, trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Westerberg, suffered an almost career-ending injury early in 2023 in the form of a serious fetlock joint infection.

“He was a great horse. The class he had and his stamina,” said Mr O’Brien. “He had to be incredibly sound to come back from what he did. I don’t think any other horse would have come back from where he came back from.

“Obviously, we had to be ultra-respectful of him. Always. When he was a little bit sore after his run at Leopardstown, we were never going to take any risks with him. Everybody felt the same way.”

Kyprios won eight of his nine Group One starts and has won his last nine races, winning £2,690,414 during his career, which started in September 2020.

Mr O’Brien picked out the Prix du Cadran of 2022, which Kyprios won by 20 lengths despite hanging violently to his left inside the final furlong, as one of his highlights.

“He won by a long way. He was just galloping home really,” said Mr O’Brien. “He’d been round once, he could see where he needed to go and he just wanted to get back. He was just always in second gear most of the time.

“That was just unusual, that Prix du Cadran, they all fell away, nothing could go with him and he got left in front and got a bit lonely.

“He’s been the most incredible horse, he had an incredible mind to go with his incredible ability.”

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Six-time Group One winner Auguste Rodin is set to retire to stud at Coolmore’s Irish base upon completing his planned final race in the Japan Cup in November.

The four-year-old, owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Westerberg, has been trained by Aidan O’Brien throughout his illustrious career.

He won the Group One Futurity Trophy at Doncaster as a two-year-old, then went on to scoop four Group Ones in the form of The Derby at Epsom, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf during a remarkable year as a three-year-old. This year, he added the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot to his CV and has amassed almost £5m in prize money.

“Auguste Rodin is an exceptional racehorse and stallion prospect with the blend of class, speed and pedigree that only the best possess. He is a very special horse for us, and I truly believe he ranks up there with the best middle-distance racehorses and sires that we have stood here before him like Sadler’s Wells, Galileo, Montjeu, Caerleon and Camelot,” said Coolmore’s MV Magnier. “Physically he fills the eye so well as he has extra quality and movement so I can’t wait to see his first crop in Ballydoyle in 2028.”

Auguste Rodin, who is by 11-time champion sire Deep Impact, is the first foal out of triple Group One winner Rhododendron, who is by Galileo and a full sister to seven-time Group One winner Magical.

“He connects two of the most powerful breeding lines in the world,” said Aidan O’Brien. “He has been a pleasure and a privilege to train. He is just a very unique horse and we’re very excited to see what he will achieve at stud. We will be supporting him with our own mares.”

Jockey Ryan Moore, who rode Auguste Rodin in all but one of his 15 starts, said: “He’s been an unbelievable horse for us. We have always thought the world of him. He has everything you’d want. He has so much pace. Horses like him are so hard to find.”

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Rock Of Gibraltar, who clocked seven Group One wins on the Flat including the 2,000 Guineas and the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2002, and who then went on to have a prolific career at stud, has died at the age of 23.

Racing giants Coolmore announced today (24 October) that the stallion, who won £1,164,804 during his racing career, “passed away last night due to heart failure”.

The son of Danehill, bred by the late Joe Crowley and Anne-Marie and Aidan O’Brien, was the first horse ever to win seven consecutive Group One races in the northern hemisphere breaking Mill Reef’s 30-year-old record.

Rock Of Gibraltar was crowned world three-year-old champion in 2002 and he sired a total of 16 Group One or Grade One winners worldwide. These were headed by Criterium International and Eclipse Stakes winner Mount Nelson and Golden Jubilee Stakes and Haydock Sprint Cup winner Society Rock, along with Irish 1,000 Guineas and Garden City Stakes winner Samitar. He was also a notable broodmare sire; his daughters produced two recent 2,000 Guineas winners in Kameko and Poetic Flare.

Rock Of Gibraltar, who was trained by Aidan O’Brien throughout his career, was stabled at Castlehyde Stud, a branch of Coolmore, at the time of his death.

Castlehyde manager Paddy Fleming said in a statement: “He was healthy and looking great right up to the end. He was a fantastic racehorse and a very good sire who will be missed by all the staff here.”

Rock Of Gibraltar retired to Coolmore for a private fee in 2003 and shuttled between Australia, Japan, Chile and Brazil as well as continuing to cover a few mares in Ireland in recent years.

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The respected thoroughbred breeder and owner, Evie Magnier Stockwell (née Hallinan), died peacefully at home on 10 September, aged 97.

Born in Cork, Miss Hallinan became immersed in racing when she married Grange Stud owner Tom Magnier in 1947. When her husband died in 1962, she raised their four children – John, Peter, David and Anne. John left school to help with the running of the stud and working farm, which at the time stood horses including Even Money. John later founded the world-class thoroughbred breeding operation, Coolmore Stud.

Known for her blue and brown silks, Mrs Stockwell had much success over the years with horses including Liscanna, The Bogberry, Luas Line, Kitza and Brave Anna. Some of her most notable winners included the Aidan O’Brian-trained Hit It A Bomb, winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turn in 2015, and Fairyland – winner of the 2018 Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes and the 2019 Group 1 Flying Five Stakes. Mrs Stockwell also owned listed winner We Are Ninety, with her twin sister Lady Mimi Manton, who predeceased her last month.

Her other children also followed in her footsteps in the thoroughbred industry – David manages Castylehyde and Grange Studs, and Anne runs Tally-Ho Stud with her husband Tony. Peter, who died in 2019, owned Brittas House Stud.

A spokesman for Leopardstown racecourse paid tribute to Mrs Stockwell and said she was a “fantastic supporter” of the industry.

She is survived by John, David and Anne, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Galileo, one of the most influential thoroughbred sires of all time, has been put down aged 23.

A statement from Coolmore said the world-renowned champion sire’s life ended today (Saturday, 10 July) on humane grounds owing to a “chronic, non-responsive, debilitating injury to the left fore foot”.

“It is a very sad day, but we all feel incredibly fortunate to have had Galileo here at Coolmore,” said John Magnier.

“I would like to thank the dedicated people who looked after him so well all along the way. He was always a very special horse to us and he was the first Derby winner we had in Ballydoyle in the post MV [Michael Vincent] O’Brien era.

“I would also like to thank Aidan and his team for the brilliant job they did with him. The effect he is having on the breed through his sons and daughters will be a lasting legacy and his phenomenal success really is unprecedented.”

Galileo, by Sadler’s Wells out of 1993 Arc winner Urban Sea, was unbeaten in his first six starts, under the guidance of trainer Aidan O’Brien. His top racing achievements included the 2001 Derby, Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He was named European Champion three-year-old colt in 2001.

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But it is his legacy as a sire for which Galileo is best known. He broke Danehill’s world record in June 2020, when he sired his 85th Group One winner, Peaceful, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Fittingly, this was the same race won by one of his first crop of foals, Nightime.

That tally now stands at 91, while 20 of his sons – including Frankel and Australia – have also sired Group One victors.

“Following Galileo’s strikingly impressive Epsom Derby success the front-page headline in the Racing Post was the single word ‘PERFECTION.’ It could not have been more apt,” added the Coolmore statement.

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Two fillies by Galileo have become the most expensive yearlings sold at auction in the world this year – as nine lots fetch seven figure prices at the Tattersalls October yearling sale book one last week (6-8 October).

Lot 436, a Galileo filly out of Shastye, was bought by MV Magnier, Coolmore, for £3.57 million on the final day of the sale. The Newsells Park Stud consigned filly is the full sister to Group One winners Japan and Mogul and will join her full-brothers at Ballydoyle.

“It is a great result for everybody involved, she has been bought in partnership with Westerberg,” said MV Magnier. “She is a very nice filly and a very nice mover, like Japan and Mogul. The mare produces great looking stock and great racehorses, let’s hope she does it one more time.”

The second Galileo filly, Lot 374, was also bought by MV Magnier. The filly, out of the dual Grade Two winner Prize Exhibit, sold for £2.94 million.

‘[Her] breeder David Nagle has been saying for a very long time how good a filly she is. We are very lucky to have been able to buy her. She has a great page, and she comes from a very good nursery,” said Mr Magnier.

“These kind of fillies are collectors items with Galileo and how he is doing as a broodmare sire. She is just exceptional.”

During the auction’s three days nine lots sold for seven figure prices including Lot 174, the son of Kingman who sold for £2.84 million to Oliver St Laurence from Houghton Bloodstock, on behalf of Pantile Stud. The colt, out of Galicuix, is a half brother to class winner Galileo Gold.

Bo Hicks-Little, stud manager of Pantile Stud, said the colt has “never put a foot wrong”.

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“He is a superstar, and not just physically, he is so mentally strong too, he is such a professional. He was a late April foal and we had a bad night when he was born as we nearly lost the mare. We had to bottle feed him for 24 hours,” he said.

“He has been bought for Fawzi Nass and Bahraini interests. He is a gorgeous horse, he has a stallion’s pedigree and he will go into training with Roger Varian,” added Mr St Laurence.

Lot 109, a colt by Dubawi out of Cushion, was bought by Godolphin for £2.21 million from Floors Stud. The stable also bought Lot 162, a filly by Frankel out of Flesh d’Or for £2.1 million from Norelands Stud and Lot 41, a colt by Frankel out of Attraction, for £1.16 million from Floors Stud.

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“To all the horses who have risen above the silly names they have been given and to those owners who have given their horses jolly good names” — this is the acknowledgement written by David Ashforth, the author of the newly released book, Fifty Shades of Hay: The Extraordinary World of Racehorse Names.

Indeed this book gives fascinating insight to how racehorses are named; from famous owners such as The Queen, to the equine greats, including Desert Orchid, Frankel, Galileo and so many more. From the brilliantly clever, to the plain terrible, this book features some of the best (and worst!) racehorse names out there, including many excellent horsey puns.

David is a prolific racing writer, with upwards of 28 years of experience, and he was twice voted Horserace Writer of the Year.

In this book, he writes with wit, intelligence and humour, unearthing masterpieces in racehorse naming, such as Press Luncheon, who was by a stallion called Be Friendly and out of a mare named Twaddle. There’s also the Sexcetera chapter, where you can snigger away at those horses who have been named Sheila Blige, Mary Hinge, Muff Diver, Hoof Hearted, Noble Locks, Passing Wind and so on.

Despite the fact that this book deserves to be on every coffee table, it also deserves to be read from cover to cover — it’s fascinating, laugh out loud funny and very, very clever.

Here’s an extract from the chapter titled, How the Big Names Choose Names:

“Coolmore: The Coolmore Goliath, with John Magnier’s big brain inside it, is unlikely to suffer the same fate as the biblical colossus and be felled by David’s sling.

“The breeding and racing operation, the latter in the capable hands of Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, is to the horseracing industry what the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are to American football. They’re not very popular with some people, either.

“Applying an impressive list of commercial assets, such as strong leadership, sound organisation, extensive knowledge, political influence and lots of money, Coolmore has turned some of the best racehorses in the world into some of the best stallions.

“Susan Magnier, John’s wife, chooses the names to be bestowed on each year’s new inmates and it is no coincidence that most of Coolmore’s best horses, especially the colts, have the most distinguished names. They wouldn’t want one of their duds to be called Camelot, while their next Derby winner and stallion prospect was called Who Gives A Donald.

“Successful naming involves identifying the best horses early and reserving suitably exalted names for use when a potentially top-class one emerges. The names are rarely inspired by those of the horse’s parents.

“Camelot was reputed to have been stored in Sue Magnier’s diary for almost ten years before a 2009 foal by Montjeu out of Tarfah was deemed worthy of the name. He won the 2011 Racing Post Trophy and 2012 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Irish Derby. Good choice!

“The Magniers are averse to interviews but after Ruler Of The World won the 2013 Derby (the fourth of six for Coolmore/Ballydoyle so far), John Magnier said, ‘All the horses are rated on pedigree, then rated as individuals. Sue names all the horses in February/March time. Aidan gives his thoughts from week to week. This horse obviously made his way to the top. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don’t. We’ve had a lot of bad American presidents.’ Magnier was probably thinking of the human ones, because George Washington the horse did well, although John F. Kennedy was a disappointment.

Sue Magnier’s mother, Jacqueline O’Brien, was born in Australia and when the horse of that name won the 2014 Derby Tom Magnier, John and Sue’s son, said, ‘There was a strong determination to ensure that the name “Australia” was given to a colt considered capable of going right to the very top.’ He did, going on to win the Irish Derby and Juddmonte International.”

Price: Fifty Shades of Hay: The Extraordinary World of Racehorse Names can be purchased for £12.99 from the Racing Post shop. It is also available to buy via Amazon.

Published by: Racing Post Books, 2018

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A four-year-old thoroughbred filly became the highest-priced horse ever sold at a European auction after changing hands for 6 million guineas (£6.3million).

Double group one winner Marsha was bought by Coolmore’s MV Magnier for a new partnership at Tattersalls December Mare Sale on Tuesday (5 December).

The racehorse attracted interested from Japan, Qatar, South Africa and the US.

Ed Dunlop, who was sat with Gaynor Rupert, and David Redvers were involved in the early stages, but gave way to MV Magnier for Coolmore and John Gosden on behalf of Godolphin.

The bidding turned into a head-to-head battle between the two racing powerhouses after Mr Gosden bid 4 million guineas.

Mr Magnier jumped back in to take the price to 5 million, with the pace picking up again until the price reached its final total.

The hammer fell on Mr Magnier’s 6 million bid to secure the star mare.

Watch the full video of Marsha’s sale below…

“She really is something special,” said Mr Magnier. “Sir Mark [Prescott, the filly’s trainer] has done a great job with her, she was very fast and the lads were very keen to have her.”

He added she will go to stud and will be covered by champion sire Galileo.

Dan Downie, of former owners Elite Racing Club, said the funds will go towards the running of the club.

“It is exciting, and it is a wonderful for Elite,” he added.

“We did have a price at which we would have taken her home, but we did think it was going to be unlikely.

“She has been wonderful and always takes everything in her stride.”

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The filly, by Acclamation, won this year’s Nunthorpe Stakes at York and last year’s Prix de l’Abbaye.

She was first past the post in seven out of her 18 starts and has notched up £650,114 in earnings over her three-year racing career.

Ten lots broke the million guineas barrier at yesterday’s sale.

These included Zhukova, who was bought by Anthony Stroud for Godolphin for 3.6 million guineas, and Quiet Reflection, who was purchased by Tom Goff for 2.1 million guineas on behalf of Mr Magnier.

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Six-time Group One winner High Chaparral has died aged 15.

The popular stallion was put down at Fethard Equine Hospital yesterday (Sunday 21 December).

A statement from owners Coolmore explained that the horse had been having “exploratory colic surgery due to a perforated intestine”, but that he was put down during the operation.

The son of Sadler’s Wells won 10 from 13 races and was a Group One winner at the age of two-, three- and four-years-old.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, in 2002 High Chaparral completed a famous Derby double, taking the Epsom and Irish races.

He was ridden by Johnny Murtagh at Epsom, defeating stablemate and favourite Hawk Wing, ridden by Mick Kinane. Mick then opted to ride the horse in the Irish equivalent.

Mick Kinane told the Irish press: “It’s sad news, he was a very tough, genuine horse and was very talented.”

High Chaparral also took the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster (2001) and Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in 2003.

In 2002 he won the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Arlington Park in Chicago, and in 2003 he reclaimed the title at Santa Anita in California.

After that victory — and total career winnings of almost £3.5m — he was retired to Coolmore Stud where he stood as a successful stallion.

His most famous offspring included So You Think — who took the Cox Plate in Australia in 2009 and 2010 and the Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prince of Wales’s Stakes in the UK.

Another of his progeny is Toronado who won this year’s Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot.

He also sired It’s A Dundeel, Shoot Out and Descarado. Other successful runners by High Chaparral include Wigmore Hall — who was sadly fatally injured in September — Derby contender Western Hymn, High Jinx and Free Eagle.

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St Nicholas Abbey — the only racehorse to have won 3 Coronation Cups — has been euthanased following a bout of colic.

He had suffered a series of health problems since surgery for a broken pastern 5 months ago.

Coolmore confirmed in a statement that the 7-year-old stallion was put down this morning.

He suffered the career-ending injury last year (23 July) during a routine gallop at Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base.

The son of champion sire Montjeu was immediately operated on and his leg was reconstructed using 20 screws and 2 bone plates.

The 6-time Group One winner had a number of setbacks after the operation including a serious bout of colic just 3 days after surgery. He was also suffering from laminitis, but vets were hopeful he would make a full recovery to have a career at stud.

A statement issued by Coolmore Stud read: “Regretfully St Nicholas Abbey has lost his brave battle after suffering a colic this morning. Surgery revealed a severe strangulating colon torsion that was unviable and he had to be euthanased on humane grounds.

“This is extremely unfortunate as St Nicholas Abbey had been in terrific form, the laminitis was resolving very well and the fracture had healed better than expected.

“Coolmore would like to thank the surgeons, the international experts and all the staff at Fethard Equine Hospital who gave him such excellent care 24/7.

“We would also like to thank the multitude of well-wishers for all the cards and messages of support for St Nicholas Abbey. He will be buried in the graveyard here at Coolmore.”

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St Nicholas Abbey has suffered another setback in his recovery from a broken pastern.

The triple Coronation Cup winner has developed mild laminitis in his left fore. This is the same leg which underwent surgery in July.

The 6-year-old suffered the career-ending injury (23 July) during a routine gallop at Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base.

He was immediately operated on and his leg was reconstructed using 20 screws and 2 bone plates.

2 days after the initial surgery, he suffered a serious bout of colic and had to be operated on. A month later he suffered another major complication when one of the pins supporting his legs broke.

This latest setback could again be “life-threatening” if the condition worsens.

A statement on Coolmore’s website said: “This is disappointing as he is now weight bearing and walking well on the operated (fractured) leg, which has healed amazingly well to date.

“Although laminitis could be a life threatening complication, we are hoping the condition will stabilise.

“Obviously the next weeks are critical in his recovery, but St Nicholas Abbey remains comfortable with a good appetite and incredible attitude.”

St Nicholas Abbey is the only horse to win the Coronation Cup 3 times and his connections are hoping that he will recover from the injury to have a career at stud.

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Camelot — the horse who came within a length of an historic Triple Crown — has been retired from racing.

The 4-year-old — whom trainer Aidan O’Brien called “the perfect racehorse” — will now stand at Coolmore Stud in Co Tipperary, Ireland.

Camelot, by Montjeu, was unbeaten as a 2-year-old and in 2012 became only the 3rd horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to achieve the 2,000 Guineas-Derby double.

But he was denied victory in the St Leger — the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown of English Classics — by the Mahmood al-Zarooni-trained Encke, by just ¾ of a length.

Encke was one of the Godolphin horses that tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol in April this year.

Camelot was being aimed at next month’s Breeders’ Cup in California until he was found to be lame this morning (14 October).

He earned nearly £2million prize money during his career but had struggled this season — following a colic operation last October — winning only 1 of 3 starts.

But Aidan O’Brien said Camelot had been working very well prior to his retirement.

“Unfortunately we never saw the same brilliance on the racecourse as we had done before his colic operation,” he said on the Coolmore website.

“But he was showing signs of it at home in recent weeks, so it’s disappointing that he won’t get the opportunity to run again.”

He added: “From the very first time we saw him at the sales we just loved him.

“He was a beautiful horse with a terrific action. Speed, class and super-intelligent to go with it — he had it all.”

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St Nicholas Abbey is on the mend having suffered a life-threatening bout of colic while recovering from a broken pastern.

The six-year-old suffered the career-ending pastern injury last Tuesday (23 July) during a routine gallop at Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base.

The triple Coronation Cup winner was operated on the next day (24 July) in order to try and save him for a future career at stud. But on Friday (26 July) he suffered a severe bout of colic and underwent surgery at Fethard Equine Hospital.

“St Nicholas Abbey has made positive progress and is in good form today following yesterday’s colic surgery,” said owners Coolmore in a statement on Saturday (27 July).

“The colic was caused by caecal shutdown (equivalent to the human appendix), which is an extremely painful condition.

“His treatment means he cannot have food for a prolonged period — this is difficult for a horse like St Nicholas Abbey who loves his food and usually never leaves an oat!

“He will get parentral nutrition instead (intravenous nutrition) to fulfill his daily requirements.

“All surgeons are pleased with the progress he is making with his pastern reconstruction and he is taking weight on the leg well.”

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After spending 12 years with leading bloodstock companies, including Coolmore, Darley and Juddmonte, Richard Knight is setting up on his own.

Richard, who is based in Newmarket, is offering foal, yearling and mare purchase services, plus mating plans, nomination booking and racehorse management.

Richard says he gained “first-class all-round experience of the bloodstock industry” through working on the stud farms at Coolmore and Highclere and the advertising and nominations departments at Darley and Juddmonte.

“This experience has already proved itself,” he said.

“From a small amount of horses purchased to date I have bought Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed filly Up In Time, who was bought as a yearling.”

Another purchase was Brazen, bought by Richard for 40,000 guineas as a foal and sold for 80,000 guineas as a yearling. Brazen recently won his two-year-old maiden by six lengths.

For more information visit www.richardknightbloodstock.com or telephone 07769-349240.

It may sound odd, but I love seeing horses relax in the sunshine-drenched paddocks. The time they get to visit “Dr Green” is of the utmost importance and a vital part of their season ahead. I always feel for the poor Flat horses, as their holiday period is freezing winter with no good grass, whereas the jumpers get to unwind mentally and physically in the sunshine with lush grass.

While all these equine machines are recharging their batteries, the one machine that works overtime is the steam cleaner. This was one of my earliest purchases as cleanliness and hygiene is paramount. Those who know me will testify that I like a neat and clean atmosphere in which to work. The Karcher cleaner was bought at a bargain price, is big and scopey and – although it drinks fuel – you can turn it off and shut it away. I bet you never thought you would hear a steam cleaner likened to a horse.

As the stars of the jumps season temporarily fade into the galaxy, the Flat astronomers had predicted great things from their side of the stratosphere, and goodness me they were right. Over the past week, Black Caviar, I’ll Have Another and Frankel have been the asteroids that obliterated their counterparts.

John Francome pointed out that watching Black Caviar’s victories is rather like groundhog day as they all seem visually similar and on similar tracks. It will be interesting to see how she takes to the British racecourses.

I am loving the banter and claim-staking as to who is “the greatest”. Officially it is Frankel, but the Aussies take pride in their sporting heros and will not let that apparent error of judgement lie.

And on the subject of Frankel, it did amaze me how hollow I felt when his career was apparently hanging in the balance, as this horse promises so much and continually delivers. It only dawned on me how much he is needed when he had his “racecourse gallop” in the JLT Lockinge stakes at Newbury. Joni Mitchell was spot on, as no one really does know what they have got until it’s gone, and it’s much easier to appreciate the past than realise what you have in the present.

What I also find fascinating is Coolmore’s role in this story. They have not only got an exceptional horse in Excelebration and will do their best to topple the extra- (not sure what comes after exceptional) exceptional Frankel, but they also have rescued the breeding industry from dying with new fashions. I am sorry to say that this once again brings in our Australian cousins that I keep on banging on about.

Coolmore purchased Frankel’s damsire Danehill from none other than his owner breeder Khalid Abdulla, and turned this very useful sprinter but non-staying miler into a sire sensation.

It was key that he started his career in the southern hemisphere. As a sire he was far more dynamic than as a racehorse and, as I said before, the Aussies are the ones who train horses, not for certain trips, but as animals who can run at a high speed over what ever trip you want. So Danehill wasn’t cast as a sire of sprinters but of good speed horses. It was only later that Europe began to appreciate Danehill and he sired Derby winners and Ascot Gold Cup winners over much further than he was ever effective himself.

Furthermore, there was a time when the commercial appreciation of a Derby winner as a stallion came into question. Italian breeder Frederico Tesio had already outlined how our industry was based around Epsom’s winning post, but this became old-fashioned as Derby winners came and went as racehorses and sires. This was because people seemed to want to breed for speed.

What John Magnier and co at Coolmore have done is reaffirm Tesio’s statement by producing the best Derby-winning sire seen for many a year. Galileo was a beautifully actioned racehorse who only ran once at two but who carried all before him at three.

They say that it is important for Derby winners to drop back to a mile and quarter after their Epsom triumph for commercial stud value (like High Chaparral, Authorized and Sea The Stars), but Galileo never won again after his famous King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes victory over Fantastic Light at Ascot.

No one knew that his dam Urban Sea would go on to produce perhaps the greatest all-round performer of recent times in Sea The Stars, but Galileo had already cast his galaxy of stars and the one he has produced in Frankel is certainly one that shines brightly in any era.

Galileo is still relatively young for a sire to have had so many class performers and on all levels. Derby winners will come his way – remembering that he himself ended Sadler’s Wells’ Derby hoodoo. Galileo is the best stallion in the world and, although he was no dirt performer himself, who knows whether he may produce a Kentucky Derby winner. It was his sire Sadler’s Wells that produced dirt sire sensation El Prado.

As Coolmore continues to reaffirm the old ways, then who is to say that they won’t let Camelot bid for immortality with a Triple Crown bid? According to many this is no longer the ultimate test of the thoroughbred, but is, in breeding-speak, as dead as the Latin language.

In the USA they will not settle for Meat Loaf’s assurance “two out of three ain’t bad” as I’ll Have Another has surprised me by winning the second leg of the Triple Crown – the Preakness at Pimlico. A racing nation will hold its breath until a week on Saturday when he bids for immortality in New York where so many have failed. Of the three races, the Belmont Stakes is the one that I would have thought would suit this horse most – so you never know…

Symonds family update

As racing lives in hope of finding new champions and being continually awed by the current ones, I know that certain establishments have lost their star students and governors, with my sister Lydia completing her time at Trinity College Dublin and my father temporarily away from the helm of the farm with knee replacements. Dublin has lost someone of many talents and a dynamic that stretches from the bars of Temple Bar to the libraries and lecture halls, while I have been temporarily left without a father and, more importantly… a gardener!

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Pour Moi showed a dazzling turn of foot to come from last to first and take the Investec Derby by a head today. The favourite, The Queen’s Carlton House, finished third by three-quarters of a length.

This was a first Derby victory for Pour Moi’s trainer, Andre Fabre, who has been champion trainer in France 22 times. It was also a dream debut in the race for his jockey, 19-year-old Mickael Barzalona.

The Montjeu-sired Pour Moi, who is owned by the Coolmore syndicate of John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, was plum last rounding Tattenham Corner. But he quickened brilliantly when asked to pass every horse in the straight, and won by a head from Treasure Beach, also owned by Coolmore but trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien. The same connections also took fourth place with Memphis Tennessee.

Fabre, who was a champion jump jockey before he turned to training, said: “He’s a great horse with great acceleration. The speed he has is exceptional and he had a turn of foot twice.”

He also said that Pour Moi had more instant speed than Peintre Celebre, who Fabre trained to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1997. And the Arc looks like Pour Moi’s next serious target – Fabre expressed a wish to bypass the King George and rest the horse before an autumn campaign aimed at the Arc.

Carlton House met a bit of trouble in running and lost a shoe in the final furlong, but he seemed to lack the acceleration of the winner.

His trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, said: “He’s run very well but things just haven’t got right [the horse also had an injury scare earlier in the week]. He had a hold-up close to the race and during it he got too far back and then had to run wide into the straight. He’s still a high-class horse and he will have a big day.”

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A proper race and a proper horse. Sea The Stars’ Derby victory is full of meaning. That the 2000 Guineas winner can flash home over a mile and dig deep to find that extra half a mile in the Derby is exciting, for punters and purists alike.

It would be a bit much to hope for to imagine he will go for the St Leger and the Triple Crown — his stud value is stratospheric at the moment and, sadly, a Leger win will only diminish that these days — but we can dream about it for a while.

What a stallion he should be — a half-brother to champion sire Galileo, son of an Arc heroine and, refreshingly in these Coolmore-dominated times, by a Darley miling stallion in Cape Cross. Will the Tsuis, who own Sea The Stars, be able to resist the sand dollars from Dubai? But then again, would you?

It means that the Ballydoyle/Coolmore operation isn’t invincible. Aidan O’Brien ran six horses — half the field, and although he took second, third, fourth and fifth places, there’s only one that matters. Nine out of the 12 runners were by Coolmore sires — and Sea The Stars wasn’t.

On the subject of Aidan O’Brien, he was fined £140 for each of his six horses who were late into the parade ring. Seeing the horses before the race, making your own judgements, is an integral part of the big-race experience, and watchers were very disappointed that his horses arrived seven minutes late.

The jockeys mounted immediately and the horses were led out of the paddock on their way to the course, so we had no chance to weigh them up and observe their demeanours.

It is not only nice to see them, it could be crucial betting information for the punter, and if all the other horses have to put up with the intense atmosphere of the parade ring, why shouldn’t O’Brien’s? Yes, he had to six to saddle, but couldn’t they have come up one at a time, rather than waiting to come in a gun-slinging posse?

It also meant the race was seven minutes late off, which impacts on television schedules and doesn’t exactly incline the BBC, under fire for cutting back its racing coverage, in the sport’s favour.

But none of that can overshadow a magnificent performance by a horse bred to be king, trained by a gentleman and ridden by the man with the best eyebrows in sport.

Don’t miss H&H’s special report on the Epsom Derby meeting, on sale Thursday 11 June, ’09

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The legendary stallion Sadler’s Wells has been retired from stud duties at the age of 27 due to declining fertility.

Sadler’s Wells was champion sire in Britain and Ireland a record 14 times — in 1990, and from 1992-2004.

The son of Northern Dancer out of the Bold Reason mare Fairy Bridge was born in America in 1981 but was trained in Ireland by Vincent O’Brien, winning six of his eleven starts including the Irish 2000 Guineas, Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.

He has stood at Coolmore Stud since the end of the 1985 flat season and famously produced 69 individual Group One winners including Epsom Derby winners Galileo and High Chaparral, Salsabil — who won the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Irish Derby — and Montjeu, who counts both the Irish and French Derbies and the Arc among his wins.

He also sired the three-time Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq.

Coolmore manager Christy Grassick said: “I think Sadler’s Wells is generally acknowledged as the best sire Europe has ever seen and we feel very privileged to have been associated with him.

“Despite his advancing years, he is still in remarkably good condition and I hope he enjoys a long and happy retirement.

“His influence will be felt for many years to come and in Galileo, Montjeu and High Chaparral, we are delighted to have his three best sons at Coolmore.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now