Seven-figure frenzy as Galileo mares prove the must-have item in Kentucky

In the fashion-conscious world of thoroughbred breeding, Galileo mares have become the chic accessory some US breeders desire for their programmes to attain a new level of cachet in the upper end of the global commercial marketplace.

All four mares by Coolmore's premier sire that were sold either at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale or during the single-session Book 1 of Keeneland's breeding stock auction brought $1 million or more.

Topping that group at $1.75m was Key To My Heart, a four-year-old Listed winner out of Bernardini's Grade 1-winning daughter A Z Warrior acquired by Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm at Keeneland.

View full Keeneland November Sale results

Lyon said she hopes the mare, who is in foal to War Front, will be an important component of her goal to inject more quality European bloodlines into her broodmare band while still appealing to a broad cross-section of potential buyers with her yearlings. Key To My Heart's deep US-raced family includes Graded winners Jojo Warrior and E Z Warrior.

"I wanted a Galileo mare and she just ticked all the boxes. I also have tried in the past to buy out of that family - I've bid on mares in the past and didn't get them," Lyon said. "Being in foal to War Front with her first foal is going to be a no-brainer, I would think. We're very excited to have her.

"I'm expanding a little bit into some European blood," she added. "You've got to look at the best horses in the world, no matter where your business is. If you're in this business, it's global."

In 2015, Lyon bought the Hennessy mare More Hennessy for $1.5m partly because the mare's son Hootenanny, a Quality Road colt bred by Barronstown Stud, had won the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and the mare was in foal to Galileo. Lyon has retained the resulting Galileo filly, a current juvenile named Shadow Play.

Jane Lyon (pictured with Bobby Spalding): 'You've got to look at the best horses in the world, no matter where your business is'Credit: Keeneland photo

Going forward, Lyon said she would like to acquire one or more daughters of Galileo's top son, Frankel, or possibly mares in foal to Frankel, and she is considering breeding mares to European-based stallions.

"I've been contemplating sending a couple of mares over there but I realise how difficult it is - I think it's hard on the mares. I might choose instead to buy some mares over there and ship them home," Lyon said.

Bred by Ireland's Triermore Stud and sold for 1,300,000gns to MV Magnier at the 2015 Tattersalls October Sale prior to her racing career for a partnership of Coolmore and Markus Jooste, Key To My Heart has "arguably the best stallion in the world as her sire and also an extremely strong dirt family. It's a great combination and I don't think you see that very often in the market. I hope to make her more important than she already is," Lyon said.

Another rising breeder, Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm who is also a partner with Hill 'n' Dale Farm's John Sikura in the bloodstock venture Elevage, paid $1.4m at Fasig-Tipton for Galileo's four-year-old daughter Galileo Gal, a half-sister to the brilliant miler Alpha Centauri and from the family of champions Miesque and East Of The Moon.

Bernick said he thought he got a bargain, considering the quality of Galileo Gal's pedigree and its international appeal.

"She's by the best horse in the world," Bernick said, "and she comes from, to me, the best pedigree you can come from. She's a winner and her sister is definitely champion miler in Europe this year. She's set up for any number of stallions; I'm not sure if she'll stay here or go to Europe [to be bred], but I'm excited to have her."

View full Fasig-Tipton November Sale results

Bernick said he did not think he would be able to afford Galileo Gal, who was bred by the Niarchos family and raced by Gary Barber after being listed as a €250,0000 private sale to agent Justin Casse at the 2015 Arqana August Yearling Sale.

"It's a foundation type pedigree, and she's a very pretty mare," Bernick said, adding that he did not have firm plans for Galileo Gal, who was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, "because I didn't think we would get her."

If he opts to send Galileo Gal to Europe to be bred in 2019, she would stay at Norelands Stud in County Kilkenny in Ireland, where Bernick boards other horses, he said.

Pretty Perfect in the Keeneland sales ring before being sold to Town & Country House Farms for $1.125 millionCredit: Keeneland photo

Another upwardly aiming breeder, Kiki Courtelis of Town & Country Farms, was delighted after acquiring the five-year-old Galileo mare Pretty Perfect, a Group 3 winner bred and raced by Coolmore partners, for $1.125m at Keeneland. Pretty Perfect is in foal to War Front.

"My mother [Town & Country founder Louise Courtelis] has always wanted a Galileo mare and she will fit so well in our breeding programme," said Kiki Courtelis, who operates the farm breeding programme and who praised the mare's good looks.

"And I love who she's in foal to. I can't wait to get her home,” Courtelis said.

Pretty Perfect has a deep international pedigree. Her dam, Australian Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Milanova, is a full-sister to European champion and sire Holy Roman Emperor, and her third dam, Canadian and US champion Fanfreluche, was a prolific producer and ancestress of leading Australian sires Flying Spur and Encosta De Lago.

The final Galileo mare sold during the first two days of the November sale season was Galileo's Song, a five-year-old multiple Graded stakes-placed winner of over $220,000 who is carrying her first foal to the cover of Curlin.

Japan's Shimokobe Farm paid $1m for the mare, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Magnificent Song and who was raced by Dell Ridge Farm.

"We really wanted to buy a Galileo mare and [the line] is very successful in Japan, too, so why not?" said Yukio Shimokobe, who added that Deep Impact would be a good future mate for Galileo's Song.

Saxon Warrior, this year's 2,000 Guineas winner raced and bred by Coolmore, is by Deep Impact out of Galileo's Group 1-winning daughter Maybe.

More US Breeding Stock Sale news:

Lady Eli returns home with vendor John Sikura after $4.2m sale

Barbara Banke mulls matings after buying out partner in Lady Aurelia at $7.5m