St Leger hero Galileo Chrome to join National Hunt roster at Starfield Stud

This year's St Leger winner Galileo Chrome has been retired from racing and will join Starfield Stud's National Hunt roster for 2021.

The son of Coolmore sire Australia, who was trained by Joseph O'Brien for the Galileo Chrome Partnership, was fifth on his only run at two but won all his subsequent starts, with a neck victory over Berkshire Rocco in the Doncaster Classic proving his swansong.

Micheál Orlandi, who manages the Compas Stallions who stand at his Starfield Stud in County Westmeath, said: “A tall, scopey, athletic individual with a fantastic walk, Galileo Chrome was one of the best three-year-olds in training this year. A great physical, with a star-studded pedigree, he is everything that National Hunt breeders look for in a stallion.”

The colt's trainer O'Brien added: "Australia was one of the best I rode and Galileo Chrome is easily one of the best I've trained. Unbeaten this year culminating in the St Leger, I think he could have been the leading middle-distance horse in Europe next year.

Galileo Chrome: provided his sire Australia with a first Group 1 successCredit: Edward Whitaker

"However, fortunately for breeders, he retires to stud and offers an opportunity to use a top-class racehorse. He's a beautiful looking individual with all the qualities I look for. I could not recommend him enough and look forward to training his offspring.”

Galileo Chrome, who also landed the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan in August, is the second foal out of the Dansili mare Curious Mind, a half-sister to St Leger third Michelangelo and Cocked Hat Stakes winner Private Secretary

The three-year-old's second dam, Intrigued, is herself a half-sister to French 2,000 Guineas winner Aussie Rules plus the stakes-winning Approach.

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