Circus Maximus

Galileo has a fruitful partnership with daughters of Danehill Dancer. Between them Circus Maximus, Minding, Serpentine, Sovereign, The Gurkha and Alice Springs have collected the remarkable total of 17 Gr.1 victories. Circus Maximus’ contribution included victories in three of Europe’s most important mile races - the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and the Queen Anne Stakes.

Circus Maximus was a dual winner at Royal Ascot and so was his dam Duntle, whose five victories over a mile included the Gr.2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes. Duntle was also first past the post in the Gr.1 Matron Stakes but was demoted to second. Circus Maximus’ female line includes the increasingly successful American stallion Munnings.

There must be some valuable clues to be found among the best winners sired by Galileo’s stallion sons out of mares by Danehill, including Teofilo and Frankel. Circus Maximus enjoys the advantage of having DANEHILL one generation further back in his pedigree than either Frankel or Teofilo, which widens his options. Daughters of six different sons of Danehill have produced black-type winners to these Galileo/Danehill stallions. Circus Maximus will produce only 4x3 to Danehill with mares by his sons.

Mares from the GREEN DESERT branch have already enjoyed success with the Galileo stallions with dams by Danehill. Frankel’s early crops include Group winners out of daughters of GREEN DESERT (Gr.1 winner Mirage Dancer) and OASIS DREAM (2). The GREEN DESERT branch has also enjoyed Gr.1 success with both Teofilo and Intello. Teofilo’s successful son Havana Gold has a dam by DESERT STYLE, whereas Intello’s first Gr.1 winner, Intellogent, has a dam by KHELEYF. Galileo has sired an Oaks winner from a GREEN DESERT mare and the dual Derby winner Australia from a daughter of CAPE CROSS.

Other sons of DANZIG which have succeeded with Teofilo are SHAADI, ZIETEN and ANABAA - a stallion who has done very well with Galileo. The GRAND LODGE branch of the Danzig male line supplied Teofilo with Gr.1 winners Voleuse de Coeurs (dam by GRAND LODGE) and Trading Leather (dam by SINNDAR).

The BLUSHING GROOM line also has a lot to offer. Teofilo has Gr.1 winners with dams by RAINBOW QUEST and MT LIVERMORE, plus Gr.2 winners with dams by QUEST TO FAME and GROOM DANCER. Both Teofilo and Frankel have Gr.2 winners with dams by RAHY.

Galileo now has 12 Group/Graded winners from 66 foals out of daughters of STORM CAT(21 per cent) and no fewer than eight of them - Churchill, Gleneagles, Ballydoyle, Misty For Me, Marvellous, Decorated Knight, Happily and Clemmie - are Gr.1 winners (12%). Teofilo sired a Gr.1 winner from a daughter of GIANT'S CAUSEWAY and Frankel has a Gr.1 winner with a dam by HENNESSY and a Gr.2 winner out of a GIANT’S CAUSEWAY mare.

Inbreeding to SADLER’S WELLS is becoming an option with Galileo’s stallion sons. The exceptional Enable is inbred 3x2, and two stallions bred on the Galileo-Danehill cross have sired Gr.1 winners from daughters of MONTJEU.

Galileo has 11 Group winners headed by Love, Hermosa, Magical, Rhododendron and Hydrangea from 39 foals out of PIVOTAL mares (28 per cent). Frankel is also shaping up well with PIVOTAL mares, notably siring the top-class Cracksman and the Gr.1 winner Veracious. New Approach sired the Oaks winner Talent from a PEINTRE CELEBRE mare. Galileo also has classic winners out of daughters of STRAVINSKY and THEATRICAL.

Galileo has enjoyed widespread success with MR PROSPECTOR line mares. His sons out of Danehill mares are following his example. Frankel has 5 SWs from 16 foals out of KINGMAMBO mares and sired Gr.1 winner Without Parole from a grand-daughter, by LEMON DROP KID. Teofilo’s three SWs with KINGMAMBO dams include the Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter. MACHIAVELLIAN line mares have a Gr.1 winner by Teofilo and a Gr.2 winner by Frankel, and Intello has a Gr.3 winner with a dam by MEDICEAN. Daughters of DUBAWI have already been represented by several good winners by Teofilo, including the fast Tantheem, as well as a Gr.1 winner by Frankel.

Galileo is excelling with the ROBERTO line, notably siring the Gr.1 wiunners Nathaniel, Great Heavens and Seville from daughters of SILVER HAWK. His partnership with INTIKHAB is proving tremendously effective, with five Group winners headed by Arc winner Found.

The Sadler’s Wells male line has always thrived with mares from the SHIRLEY HEIGHTSline. Teofilo has excelled with MARK OF ESTEEM mares, siring Gr.1 winner Ajman Princess, Gr.2 winner Permian and the Hong Kong star Exultant. Frankel has Gr.1 winner Logician and Gr.2 winner Frankly Darling from DAYLAMI mares, plus Group winners from mares by DARSHAAN and DALAKHANI.

Circus Maximus is likely to suit mares with AHONOORA blood. Galileo’s classic winners New Approach and Was respectively have a dam and a second dam by this top sprinter. Galileo also has three Group winners, including a classic winner, from mares by INDIAN RIDGE, and Teofilo has a Gr.3 winner. Galileo also sired the Gr.1 winner Curvy from an INCHINOR mare. Frankel has Gr.1 and Gr.3 winners out of mares by INCHINOR and INDIAN RIDGE.

Teofilo has Gr.2 and Gr.3 winners out of DIESIS mares, and both Frankel and Intello have Group winners out of SELKIRK mares, so mares with SHARPEN UP blood could suit Circus Maximus.