Dubawi and Frankel might be the men of the moment, but Galileo is not done yet and the legend sired two new 3YO stakes-winners overnight for the Coolmore partners that are headed to the Epsom Derby and Oaks.
The Group III Chester Vase (1m4 ½ f) was won by progressive colt Changingoftheguard, who broke his maiden at Dundalk on April 1 following three runs last year for one placing.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, he won by six and a half lengths announcing his Derby potential.
Changingoftheguard is the first winner for multiple US Group winner Lady Lara, who is a grand-daughter of Pivotal, a sire that has had remarkable success with Galileo. His daughters have produced 12 SW’s from 33 runners by Galileo and they include six Group I winners.
The Listed Chester Cheshire Oaks (1m 3 ½ f) was won by improving Aidan O’Brien trained filly Thoughts of June, who broke her maiden with this neck victory at her second start this year following two runs last year. Thoughts of June scored a narrow win over the race favourite Above the Curve, an American Pharoah filly from blue-blood Galileo mare Fabulous.
Thoughts of June is the second winner from US Group I winner Discreet Marq.
Changingoftheguard and Thoughts of June bring the late Galileo’s tally of SW’s to 349, which is a world record for stakes-winners by a sire.