2001 Epsom Derby -- Galileo

Galileo was unbeaten at this point of his career. He fared poorly in the Breeders Cup Classic in his only start on dirt, but terrific performances in Europe on grass, winning the Irish Derby and many other major races en route to being named champion 3-year-old in Europe.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 2001
• Epsom
• Derby
• Galileo
• Golan
• Michael
• Kinane

[DamienCaffrey]

has anyone got the BBC version of this. i hate this commentator!!!!!!!!!!!

[Elljay2001]

A great horse and his crop are following in their father's footsteps...

[GBeret83]

@cgambler864, Completely agree with you about the only real racing being turf. I've so lost interest in American racing a long time ago. I spend most of time following the European turf horses. Because frankly, they're a better class of horse with a better class of trainers. 2011 is a very down year for American racing. No real standout in the older horse division with Blame, Zenyatta, and LAL retired. And 1 of the weakest 3yr.old crops ever. The Euro's will dominate this year's Breeders Cup,IMO

[cgambler864]

@GBeret83 ......the only real racing is on turf, which is why i hate being stuck here in the States watching all this speed breeding nonsense......Lets not forget Fantastic Light, a worthy competitor............my own personal turf hero was Manila of the 1986-1987 campaign........would have loved seeing him have a run at Europes Best.....John Henry was a head case too.............

[forsoup]

Galileo an all-time great. Magnificent turf horse over a mile and a half, and arguably an even more influential stallion!

[GBeret83]

What a magnificent thoroughbred Galileo was on the racetrack. But maybe even more importantly to modern day racing, what a HUGE influence this horse had been in the breeding shed. In nearly every major G1 middle distance race in Europe, almost a certainty that at least one of the top contenders in any race will have been sired by Galileo. Especially if it's a Coolmore horse coming from Ireland. But in the case of Frankel, he's also sired a top class miler as well.

[GBeret83]

@nealtracy, Likely that Galileo or Sakhee either one would've handled Tiznow with relative ease on turf. Tiznow was a beast on conventional dirt, and that's what he was bread for. Not a knock at Tiznow. As he did beat "the iron horse," Giant's Causeway and Sakhee in back to back Classics. But for some reason, it seems to me that great turf horses adapt to conventional dirt easier than great conventional dirt horses adapt to turf. JMO.

[nealtracy]

@GBeret83 ....I think had the 3 met on the turf it would have been a different story...Galileo clearly didnt take to the sand at the Breeders Cup...I was on him too....as it turned out Tiznow and Sakhee battled it out in one of the most memorable races in history! ...As far as this race went...quite possibly the most impressive Derby performance since Shergar and then Generous....it was won by Tattenham Corner!

[GBeret83]

When Sakhee and Galileo both came to the 2001 Breeders Cup Classic. I knew Sakhee had won the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Arc De Triomphe. But I also knew that Galileo had won the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. I knew Tiznow was going to be up against it again. Just like he had been the year prior with Giant's Causeway. But frankly, I thought Galileo would be more the danger to Tiznow than Sakhee. It sure didn't turn out that way, though.

[Rab1802]

@SIZINGPENYRHEOL Both Class acts mate but I gotta give that call to Sea The Stars.