'He's very like Galileo' - blue-chip colt the star of the Cumanis' Book 1 draft

Now, more than ever before, there is a genuine scarcity factor around yearlings by Galileo. Prospective purchasers will have 14 lots by the 12-time champion sire to choose from at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, including a particularly well-credentialled youngster from the Cumani family's Fittocks Stud.

The colt is the third foal out of Koora, a homebred daughter of Pivotal whose performances on the track included winning the Group 3 St Simon Stakes and running second to Beautiful Romance in the Middleton Stakes.

"We think he's a lovely horse and we couldn't be happier with him," says Fittocks' owner and manager Sara Cumani. "We think he's very like Galileo; he looks a lot like his sire, he walks well, he's very correct and his x-rays and scopes are good. Everything's there, so now it's just a question of who might want him."

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As well as being a talented runner on the track, Koora has got her breeding career off to a hugely promising start as her first foal is Kemari, winner of this year's Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. The Godolphin-owned son of Dubawi was also a fast-finishing second to Manobo in the Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp under Frankie Dettori on Saturday.

Kemari wins the Queen's Vase at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

The mare's second foal, Out From Under, another son of Dubawi, is a winner in all but name, having been first past the post on his second juvenile outing earlier this year in the colours of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm.

Koora boasts pedigree as well as performance, as she is a half-sister to Milan, who was bred by the Cumanis before landing the St Leger and finishing second to Fantastic Light in the Breeders' Cup Turf for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners.

Moreover, this lineage means the colt is bred on the hugely successful Galileo-Pivotal cross, a nick that has produced no fewer than six Group 1 winners, namely Hermosa, Hydrangea, Love, Magical, Rhododendron and The United States. Some 26 winners have been bred on this cross and 12 of those went on to strike at stakes level.

Despite the Classic influences in his pedigree, Cumani expects the Galileo colt to be the type to come to hand relatively early.

She says: "He doesn't look like a horse you're going to have to wait that long for. He's always been one of those we've liked enormously right from birth. He's been incredibly straightforward and never given us a moment's worry."

Lot 101: the Galileo colt out of Koora strikes a pose at Park PaddocksCredit: Laura Green

Asked how the son of Galileo compares to his two older siblings, Cumani adds: "The two Dubawi brothers were smashing individuals but you could crab them on their walk a little, and that did affect them at the sales, whereas this horse has the walk to go with his looks."

Although Koora is not currently in foal, whoever buys her Galileo colt can rest safe in the knowledge that the pedigree is only just beginning what could prove to be a significant evolution, with the mare having a most promising foal at foot and an exciting mating on the horizon.

"Unfortunately Koora didn't get in foal to Wootton Bassett but she has a Kingman filly foal at foot," says Cumani. "She's pencilled into Frankel for next year, which seems to make a lot of sense. Physically she'll suit him really well."

With Luca Cumani having secured all manner of major prizes during his illustrious training career, including the Derby victories of Kahyasi and High-Rise, as well as Group 1 strikes with the likes of Barathea, Commanche Run, Gossamer, Falbrav and Postponed, the family is no stranger to the biggest stages in racing.

Sara Cumani: 'It's like having a horse in a big race; it's what we all aim for but, when it comes to it, it can be a bit of a painful experience!'Credit: Laura Green

However, Sara Cumani still concedes to feeling her share of pre-sale nerves ahead of the Galileo colt's date with the Tattersalls auctioneer, even if her husband will prove rather more unflappable.

"It's all very exciting and I'm already getting super nervous," she says. "I'll definitely enjoy showing him because he's a lovely-looking horse so he'll be a fun one to show. I just hope people like what they see.

"But I have to say I get nervous when the time comes to go into the ring. It's like having a horse in a big race; it's what we all aim for but, when it comes to it, it can be a bit of a painful experience. Luckily Luca is incredibly organised and calm, so he'll be the calming influence."

With Fittocks offering its biggest Book 1 draft since Luca relinquished his trainer's licence at the end of 2018, the blue-blooded Galileo colt is not the only promising yearling Cumani can look forward to presenting at Park Paddocks.

The ten-strong draft includes two fillies and a colt by Lope De Vega, a son of Kingman out of a sister to St Nicholas Abbey, a daughter of Dark Angel, as well as youngsters by exciting first-crop sires Cracksman, Roaring Lion and the southern hemisphere sensation Zoustar.

"I think we have a very well-balanced draft of horses," says Cumani. "Some of them are by unproven stallions like Cracksman and Roaring Lion, who both look exciting, but I think they're all horses people will want to see.

"There's something there for everyone and I think they're a very nice, even bunch. We're proud to be going there with them, although of course the most important thing is that they go on to be good racehorses for somebody else."

Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale begins on Tuesday at 11am.

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