Fourth stakes winner for Australian mare Hveger
Nobel Prize lands Ballysax Stakes
Hveger (Danehill) - who is famed for being the dam of multiple Group 1-winning globe trotter and now Swettenham Stud shuttler Highland Reel (Galileo) - was represented by her fourth stakes winner as Nobel Prize (3 c ex Hveger by Danehill) landed the Ballysax Stakes (Gr 3, 1m2.5f) at Dundalk and in the process also became stakes winner number 319 for Coolmore superstar stallion Galileo (Sadler’s Wells).
Last seen running a disappointing fifth in the Queen's Vase (Gr 2, 1m6f) at Royal Ascot, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt was sent to the front and had to repel the advances of Indicative Vote (Elzaam), eventually beating him by nose. Dalvey (Dansili) finished another two lengths away in third.
Hveger - a winner over 1600 metres and placed in the South Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) - is the dam of aforementioned Highland Reel, while she is also the dam of Cape Of Good Hope (Galileo), who won the Caulfield Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and dual Group 2 winner Idaho (Galileo), who was also placed in the Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f).
The daughter of Danehill (Danzig) herself is out of Australian Oaks winner Circles Of Gold (Marscay), making her a sister to multiple Group 1 winner and sire Elvstroem (Danehill), while she is also a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Haradasun (Fusaichi Pegasus).
Later on in the afternoon in Rome, Galileo chalked up 320 stakes winners as Tuscan Gaze (3 c ex Crystal Gaze by Rainbow Quest) landed the Italian Derby (Gr 3, 2200m).
Unbeaten in two starts when trained by John Gosden, Tuscan Gaze is now trained by Luciano Bietolini and he beat British raiser King’s Caper (New Approach) into second.
The colt is out of unraced Rainbow Quest (Blushing Groom), making him a half-brother to Group 2 winners Caspian Prince (Dylan Thomas) and Spirit Quartz (Invincible Spirit), while he is a three-quarter brother to dual Group 1 winner Exultant (Teofilo).
Galileo, who has stood for a private fee since 2008, will be represented in Australia this season by his sire sons Adelaide, Churchill and Highland Reel, who stands at Swettenham Stud in Victoria for a fee of $15,000 (plus GST).
