BALKO Des Flos was the French-bred winner of this year’s thetote.com Galway Plate and while at first glance his pedigree may seem unfamiliar to many, there is much more known about it that you might initially think.

The six-year-old is a son of Balko and he is the sixth offspring of Royale Marie, a winner over jumps at Marseille and a daughter of Garde Royale (Mill Reef). Sent to stud after her racing career, her second foal Salut Flo was a son of Saint Des Saints (Cadoudal), born in 2005. He won three times over jumps in France, including at Auteuil, for trainers Emmanuel Clayeux and Richard Chotard before transferring to England and the care of David Pipe.