STALLION sons of the great Galileo (by Sadler’s Wells) are making an impact in both the northern and southern hemispheres and already nine of them have sired at least one winner at the highest level on the flat. With more than 230 individual stakes winners to his name, so far, it should be no surprise to anyone that Galileo has a large and growing number of younger sons in active service too, stallions who are in the early years of their new careers.
Ballyhane Stud has one on its roster, a leading autumn juvenile whose early three-year-old success saw him assume prominence in ante-post classic markets. He might not have scaled those lofty heights as had been hoped, but had he done so then breeders would be unable to avail of the services of this champion-related horse for a bargain €4,000.
Dual Group 2 winner Battle Of Marengo was runner-up in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes and finished fourth to Ruler Of The World in the Group 1 Derby at Epsom, but my impression of him was that he was a 10-furlong colt whose class got him those 12-furlong positions.
His full-sisters Perhaps and Precious Stone earned their blacktype over seven furlongs and a mile respectively, and his dam, Anna Karenina (by Green Desert), won the Listed Victor McCalmont Stakes at Gowran Park over nine and a half furlongs. The best of her four blacktype siblings is the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes winner and Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup third Windsor Palace (by Danehill Dancer), and her other siblings include Attasliyah (by Marju), the dam of Group 3 Round Tower Stakes winner Rabatash (by Johannesburg).
Satiety (by Our Native), the stakes-placed third dam of Battle Of Marengo, won six times in the USA, and although the grandam and third dam of stakes winners, the achievements of her full-brother are more notable.
Rockhill Native was the USA’s juvenile champion of 1979 when his wins featured the Grade 1 Futurity Stakes and Grade 1 Sapling Stakes, and he went on to be a classic-placed Grade 1 scorer at three, his Blue Grass Stakes victory followed by third in the Belmont Stakes. So, like his young relation, he produced a good performance over 12 furlongs but was better over a shorter trip.
Battle Of Marengo’s first foals made up to 55,000gns in 2016 and it can be expected that his offspring will attract plenty of attention from trainers and agents at this autumn’s yearling sales.
Won five races, £278,545, from 7 furlongs to 1 mile 2 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.2, Juddmonte Beresford Stakes, Curragh, Gr.2, P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.3, ICON Juv.Turf Trial Golden Fleece Stakes, Leopardstown, L, also placed second in King Edward VII Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2.
Retired to stud in 2015, first crop now yearlings.
Stands at: Ballyhane Stud, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, Ireland
Contact: Joe Foley or Jane Foley
Telephone: +353 (0)59 9722068 or +353 (0)86 2524135 (Joe) or +353 (0)86 8066000 (Jane)
Email: info@ballyhane.com
Web: www.ballyhane.com
Fee: €4,000