Italian job for Gustav Klimt who is off the mark as a stallion

Classic-placed Gustav Klimt is the latest first season sire off the mark, with the son of Galileo siring a maiden winner in Italy on Tuesday.

Sopran Blakey won a Milan maiden on debut for Bruno Grizetti by an impressive four and a half lengths. Owned by Leonardo Ciampoli, Sopran Blakey was bred by Old Carhue Stud who sold him as a foal at Goffs in December 2020 to St Uberto.

He is the first winner out of Perino, a Speightstown half-sister to Listed Kilboy Estates Stakes winner Adaala who is the second dam of Group 2 winner and Derby runner-up Madhmoon. Adaala's daughter by Shamardal name Asheera, who was second in the Listed Salsabil Stakes is the dam of Irish 2,000 Guineas winner and young sire Awtaad.

His third dam Ghashtah is a Nijinsky half-sister to the Triple Crown winner and champion sire Seattle Slew and the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner and sire Lomond.

Gustav Klimt was bred by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt on the outstanding Galileo - Danehill cross that has produced Frankel and Teofilo amongst other Group 1 sires.

He is a full-brother to Group 3 winner Wonderfully and the Listed winning fillies Cuff, Blissful and Friendly. He is also a half-brother to Nayarra, a Group 1 winner at two by Cape Cross, and their dam Massarra is a full-sister to Kodiac and a half-sister to Invincible Spirit. She is also a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Acts Of Grace, the second dam of multiple Group 1 winner and leading Coral Eclipse contender Mishriff.

Second dam is the deeply influential Prix de Diane winner Rafha and it is also the family of Group 1 winners Pride Of Dubai, Chinese White, Pinatubo and Uni.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners, Gustav Klimt won two of his three starts as a juvenile with the highlight being his victory in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes.

As a three-year-old he won Leopardstown's Listed 2,000 Guineas Trial, and was runner-up to Without Parole in the St James's Palace Stakes. He was third in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup, Prix Jean Prat and Irish 2,000 Guineas and retired to Coolmore for the 2019 breeding season at a fee of €7,500.

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