Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Written by Paul Vettise
Trainer and part-owner Nikki Burke is confident her well-related mare Galgani (Toronado {Ire}) can produce another bold showing at Flemington to add further value to a future broodmare career.
Cranbourne horsewoman Burke and her partners have enjoyed a grand run with Galgani, who has won three of her 13 starts and a further seven placings emphasising the 4-year-old’s genuine nature.
She will chase further success when she steps out in the RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final, having breezed through her most recent outings in fine order.
“She hasn’t had a lot of luck in her last two starts. She’s gone at a pretty solid tempo and has just been run down, so she’s going great,” Burke said.
Galgani was a first-up winner at Sandown last month and in two subsequent appearances at Flemington finished third and most recently was runner-up behind Lindhout (Time For War) in the Leilani Series Final.
“We will be tackling a similar sort of field again really, so she has got to be hard to beat,” Burke said. “She came through her last run really well and is healthy and sound, I’m sure she is going to run well.”
“We will be tackling a similar sort of field again really so she (Galgani) has got to be hard to beat.” – Nikki Burke
With the claim of apprentice Teo Nugent, Galgani will meet Lindhout 2.5kg better off this time.
“Lachie King would have been riding her, but he had a bad fall at Wodonga, so he is out for a while so Teo got the job,” Burke said.
King suffered fractured ribs, a fractured vertebra and a punctured lung in the incident and is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks.
Galgani was bought out of Merton Creek Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $30,000 by Burke and stable client Graham Loader with co-breeder Dawn Giltinan also remaining in the ownership.
Galgani as a yearling
“I thought she was a pretty cheap yearling and Toronado has carried on with it and she has got a pretty good dam’s side as well,” Burke said.
Galgani is a daughter of the late Picked In Faith (Gods Own), who was a half-sister to the former crack sprinter Ortensia (Testa Rossa), the three-time Group 1 winner of the York Nunthorpe S., the Al Quoz Sprint and the Winterbottom S.
Their dam Aerate’s Pick (Picnicker) is a sister to the G3 Rubiton S. winner and G1 Salinger S. runner-up Intelligent Star and half-sister to the G3 Autumn S. winner Blaze The Turf (Blazing Sword), whose daughter Soleil (Flying Spur) won the Listed Christmas S.
