News

Golden Result For Australian Filly

5th Jul 2010

Racing And Sports - Chris Scholtz - Sunday, 4 July 2010

Australian bred filly Mahbooba extended Galileo's influence to South Africa on Saturday when the she easily won the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at Clairwood in the colours of her breeder Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum.

Former Coolmore shuttler Galileo is best known for his success with classic three-year-olds but the Mike de Kock-trained Mahbooba is the stallion's third juvenile G1 winner, joining New Approach and Teofilo.

Mahbooba is also his second Australian-bred G1 winner after Sousa, winner of the Champion Stakes at Randwick, and his 14th G1 winner worldwide.

Mahbooba is the first foal out of Sogha, a Red Ransom winning three-parts sister to French G3 winner Slew The Red, and is from the last Australian bred crop of foals by Galileo.

Sogha was bought for $300,000 by Tim Stakemire acting for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum at the 2004 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and she won three country races before going to stud.

Her second dam Marple, is a daughter of Diesis.

Mahbooba represents another example of Galileo working with Doubly Sure blood. Doubly Sure - who struck prominence as the dam of Kris, Diesis and Keen - also features in the pedigrees of other high-class runners by Galileo such as Cape Blanco, Sixties Icon, Galactic Star, Gallant Tess and Lush Lashes.

Sogha has a yearling filly by Fusaichi Pegasus. She was then covered by Dylan Thomas and has since been exported to Argentina.

Mahbooba's previous efforts - most recently when fourth in the Allan Robertson Championship over 1200 down the Scottsville straight - had clearly indicated that she was looking for a step up in trip and the extra furlong and the Clairwood track were just what she needed.

All signs are that she will be better over a mile and beyond and she looks to be the best filly of her age group in the country.

Only last weekend Galileo sired a notable one-two in the Irish Derby with Cape Blanco and Midas Touch, giving him a second winner of the Curragh classic which he won himself nine years ago.

Galileo was champion sire in 2008 and is now leading the race for this year's champion sire honours.