WITH a growing number getting top-level winners on the flat, coupled with an increasing amount of National Hunt success for both his offspring and those of his sons, stallions by prolific champion sire Galileo (by Sadler’s Wells) are hotly sought-after at stud.
Many are covering large books but there are also some who are not yet household names within the industry and these include a Group 1 performer whose fee is a bargain at just €500.
This seven-furlong winner was third in both the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy and Group 2 Beresford Stakes as a juvenile and he comes from a famous family that is full of Group 1 and classic performers.
Rosshill Farm’s Altruistic, whose first foals have arrived this year, could represent one of the best bargains at stud in Ireland today. He was a 130,000gns yearling at Tattersalls in Newmarket and he is out of Altesse Imperiale (by Rock Of Gibraltar), a winning half-sister to Grade 1 Diana Stakes and Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes heroine Angara (by Alzao). That star is the dam of the blacktype-placed hurdler Space Ship (by Galileo) and her siblings include two fillies of particular note.
Actrice (by Danehill) won the Group 2 Prix Corrida in France, while Arlesienne (by Alzao) is the stakes-winning dam of three blacktype scorers, one of whom is the prolific Aizavoski (by Monsun), an Arctic Tack Stud stallion whose first crop are three-year-olds.
His siblings also include Altamira (by Peintre Celebre), the stakes-placed dam of 2015’s Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp runner-up Akatea (by Shamardal).
Ange Bleu (by Alleged) is both the grandam of Altruistic and a half-sister to Arcangues (by Sagace), the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan winner who, in 1993, gave Europe a surprise first winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
His dual classic-placed, pattern-winning half-sister Agathe (by Manila) is the dam of classic heroine Aquarelliste (by Danehill) and of US Grade 1 scorer Artiste Royal (by Danehill), and their Group 2-placed dam, Albertine (by Irish River), is also the dam of prolific hurdler and one-time Enghien listed scorer Albert Hall (by Stravinsky), grandam of Group 1 1000 Guineas heroine Cape Verdi (by Caerleon), and ancestress of many other notable blacktype horses.
These include Forgotten Voice (by Danehill Dancer) and Big Occasion (by Sadler’s Wells), the former a Group 3 scorer on the flat and a Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle winner too, and the latter a multiple flat and hurdles scorer who went on to add victory in the Listed Midlands Grand National.
Breeders in the west of Ireland and further afield could do well and take a look at the possibilities provided by this well-bred and smart performing son of the multiple champion Galileo.
Won one race, £47,015, over 7 furlongs, at 2 years, also placed third in Racing Post Trophy, Doncaster, Gr.1, Juddmonte Beresford Stakes, Curragh, Gr.2.
Retired to stud in 2016.
Stands at: Rosshill Stud, Rosshill, Galway, Co Galway, Ireland
Contact: Eamonn Hogan
Telehhone: +353 (0)87 9175175 or +353 (0)91 756899
Email: rosshillfarm@eircom.net