Galileo Gold to miss Derby date

Galileo Gold and Frankie Dettori power to victory in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.  Sourced from Racingfotos.com

Galileo Gold has come out of his QIPCO 2000 Guineas triumph looking “a trillion dollars” but will not run in next month’s Investec Derby.

Trainer Hugo Palmer has said he will instead be aimed at the Tattersalls-sponsored Irish Guineas at the Curragh on May 22 before seeking more QIPCO British Champions Series glory in the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Over the centuries trainers have offered a variety of different reasons for not running at Epsom but Palmer may have broken new ground by announcing that his stable star won’t run in the middle-distance showpiece after having the son of Paco Boy’s genes studied by scientists in Ireland this week.

Palmer revealed in his Betfair blog: “Nobody who witnessed the speed and power of Galileo Gold winning the 2000 Guineas will be surprised to learn that the result of his Equinome tests – from the scientists at University College Dublin – is what they call a ‘CC’.

“This means that there is a less than 1 per cent chance of his optimum trip being a mile and a half and therefore, having consulted with Harry Herbert and Sheikh Joaan [of Al Shaqab Racing], I can reveal that the horse will not be running in the Derby.

“In many ways this is a relief, as if the results had come back a ‘CT’ [an inconclusive mix of stamina and speed] then we may have faced a dilemma.

“Our priority is now to cement his position as a superstar miler and, all being well, we will now run in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, and hopefully then on to the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

Galileo Gold won in emphatic style under Frankie Dettori at Newmarket to provide Palmer with his first domestic Classic success. And he has quickly put those exertions behind him.

“I can honestly say that I have never had a horse take a race so well as he has his Newmarket run,” Palmer said. “He has literally lost no weight, hasn’t left an oat, and looks a trillion dollars.”

He added: “I’ve been absolutely blown away by the support and the messages of congratulations, I still have over 150 messages that I’ve got to get back to but I will get through them all.

“It is extremely exciting and hugely important for the yard when it has grown so significantly. It has settled a lot of nerves and no one can say in this early part of the season the yard can’t take the growth it has had.

“For me and my team it is magic to have such a lovely group of horses at the end of the day.”