A visit to the hugely influential Galileo had been in mind since the Group 1-performed mare was bought out of Kingstar Farm’s draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for a session-topping $2.3 million.
She was purchased by John and Jake Warren on behalf of Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, of Bahrain. His growing thoroughbred interests are managed by the father and son team who combine a successful bloodstock advisory business with the running of the family-owned Highclere Stud.
“Missrock has been covered by Galileo and it was always what we had intended to do, to find the best possible mating for her,” Jake Warren told TDN AusNZ.
“Obviously, with the terrific success we’ve seen in recent years with Anthony Van Dyck for example, the imported Australian mares and Galileo is clearly something that is working very well.”
Missrock when racing
The winner of last year’s G1 English Derby, Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) is a son of Galileo and the Exceed And Excel mare Believe’N’succeed.
“The Danehill line with Galileo is the option that we all wanted and Sheikh Isa was very keen to go for it and it’s very exciting,” Warren said.
“Anybody writing out a cheque of that magnitude to buy a thoroughbred is playing at the top table. They are not cheap and a lot of things that can go wrong between now and producing a black-type horse.
“Anybody writing out a cheque of that magnitude to buy a thoroughbred is playing at the top table.” – Jake Warren
“The game is very much alive though and I hope the investment pays off. Coolmore has been fantastic in working with Sheikh Isa to facilitate the cover and hopefully all parties will be rewarded.”
The resulting offspring of the mating will be owned in partnership with John Magnier’s Coolmore operation.
Sheikh Isa has taken a meticulous approach in adding yearlings and mares to his portfolio.
Galileo (Ire) | Standing at Coolmore Stud in Ireland
“He is developing a really high quality boutique broodmare band here in the United Kingdom and he’s got a terrific understanding of the global bloodstock market,” Warren said.
“He’s a very astute young guy in the industry and very keen on following the nicks and the trends that have historically proved to be successful.
“When the idea of visiting the Magic Millions Sale came up and we discussed it with him, he was very keen to explore it and did a great deal of his own research.
“When the idea of visiting the Magic Millions Sale came up and we discussed it with him, he was very keen to explore it and did a great deal of his own research.” – Jake Warren
“We were down there on the ground and marrying up the physical to ensure she (Missrock) was the right kind of mare to step up for.
Jake Warren | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“It worked, and with his aspirations to breed high-class middle-distance horses up here he stepped up to buy her and hopefully will be rewarded with a lovely first Galileo foal.”
Missrock was trained by Robbie Laing and won four races, including the G3 Percy Sykes S. and two at Listed level, and was three times Group 1 placed.
She was originally purchased by Laing at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Cressfield, for $500,000 and retired with stake earnings of $1,388,900.
“There’s no getting away from it. Australia is producing some of the best fast horses in the world and I think if you take those horses outside of Australia they would stand up wherever you took them internationally,” Warren said.
“The quality of breeding and racing in Australia is second to none in the world market. The world is becoming a smaller place and therefore playing internationally and thinking outside the box as far as breeding is concerned is the way forward.”
Missrock as a yearling
Early success
The Sheikh has embraced that concept and as a relatively new entrant, he has enjoyed early success at stakes levels.
“I’ve looked after Sheikh Isa since he’s been involved in the bloodstock game and we’ve had some fantastic success,” Warren said.
“I’ve looked after Sheikh Isa since he’s been involved in the bloodstock game and we’ve had some fantastic success.” - Jake Warren
“We’ve bought the dam of a Leger winner and some lovely yearlings that have gone on to be stakes animals and it’s a really exciting young operation to be working with.
“He’s only been buying stock for a few years and we bought a Pivotal mare called Abunai for 40,000gns (AU$S76,000). She subsequently produced the classic winner Harbour Law and she’s from a terrific female family.”
Abunai (GB) is a half-sister to the G1 EP Taylor S. winner Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and their dam is a half-sister to the multiple Group winner and Group 1 producer Inchinor (GB).
“The Sheikh also has a filly by Le Havre called Tapisserie, who he bought as a yearling for 130,000gns (AU$S247,000), and she won a stakes race and will be bred to No Nay Never,” Warren said.
“He’s got an exciting horse this year called Global Giant, who’s rated 109 up here and looks like he could be going places, so there’s a lot going on.”
Global Giant (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) is in John Gosden’s stable and has won three of his 13 starts, including the Listed Carlingford S. and has twice finished runner-up in Group 3 events.
Domestic force
Sheikh Isa has also become a major player in the development of the racing industry in Bahrain.
“He is now effectively taking control of a lot of horse racing in Bahrain and developing an international meeting there in November,” Warren said. “A lot of horses came in from all over the world to compete and it’s something he’s deeply passionate about.”
The inaugural Bahrain International Trophy in 2019 carried a purse of £200,000 (AU$S390,000) and attracted nine runners from major European stables, including Andrew Balding, John Gosden, Charlie Hills and Roger Varian.
Top honours were claimed by the Group 2 winner Royal Julius (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}), who is prepared in France by Jerome Reynier. Godolphin’s Group 2 performer Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), trained by Gosden, finished runner-up.
