Galileo Champion Sire For Third Time

Saturday, 7 January 2012: 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.
It is the 22nd consecutive year that the champion sire has stood at Coolmore.

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-Grey Lilas, by Danehill), winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane, brought further classic success to the remarkable sire.

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.