After a season in which he enjoyed 11 individual Group or Grade 1 winners globally, Galileo was crowned Europe's champion sire for 2011 with prize money earnings of £7,417,808.

Galileo was also champion sire in 2008 and 2010. He finished more than £3 million clear of Montjeu.

Galileo was represented by five European classic winners including the brilliant Frankel (Galileo-Kind, by Danehill), whose four G1 successes included a six-length triumph in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Further classic glory came via Treasure Beach (Galileo-Honorine, by Mark Of Esteem), who followed up his G1 Irish Derby success with a win in the G1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington.

Irish 2000 Guineas hero Roderic O'Connor (Galileo-Secret Garden, by Danehill), Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Misty For Me (Galileo-Butterfly Cove, by Storm Cat) and Golden Lilac

Galileo's other star three-year-olds included Nathaniel (Galileo-Magnificient Style, by Silver Hawk), who beat the 2010 Derby winner Workforce in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July.

Among Galileo's older performers was Cape Blanco (Galileo-Laurel Delight, by Presidium), now retired after his successive US G1 wins in the Man O' War Stakes, Arlington Million and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic International.

Galileo's two-year-olds included the unbeaten filly Maybe (Galileo-Sumora, by Danehill), winner of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and favourite for the 2012 1000 Guineas.

Montjeu enjoyed a sensational year with eight individual G1 winners including Epsom Derby hero Pour Moi (Montjeu-Gwynn, by Darshaan).

His other highlights included the victory of St Nicholas Abbey (Montjeu-Leaping Water, by Sure Blade) in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.