FAMILY TIES - GALIWAY

"I would like to preface this article with the acknowledgement that its contents seem incredibly trivial and almost flippant given what Michael O’Sullivan’s family are currently going through. Regardless of whether Michael was known to you personally, it is impossible to be involved in the racing industry in any way and not to feel frustration and sorrow for the loss of such a talented young man, who was evidently so widely respected and loved. May he rest in peace."

The evenings are starting to draw out now, and the days are slowly becoming milder. There is a tiny piece of spring just about recognisable in the air. It is less than a month to go until Cheltenham, and just under two months until the Craven Meeting at Newmarket. The Craven Breeze Up Sale is that same week and only serves to kick start the build-up of anticipation for Royal Ascot, due to the athletic performances of some of the nicest and speediest two-year-olds that were unearthed at the yearling sales. The excitement in both the Flat and National Hunt spheres is starting to coincide, and as a result I’d like to mention a very en vogue stallion who has offspring entered for both the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival and the Irish Oaks.

Galiway has been attracting a lot of attention from both the Flat and National Hunt markets for awhile now, largely due to the fact he has managed to prove he can get you a quick top-flight two-year-old, and a Grade 1-winning hurdler. Interestingly, his producing Vauban does not seem to have put Flat buyers off him too much. He has stood in recent seasons for €30,000, and his most recent crop of yearlings averaged over €85,000 at the sales. The most expensive of them was a colt sold to Godolphin for €400,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale.

In recent times, there has been barely a day go by where he hasn’t fielded a winner – he’s had six on the flat in the last week alone. Gyp Sea and My Own Way both struck at Marseille on Monday, and last week Galilee Dream, Maupassant and Mr Harpin all won elsewhere in France. In Britain, Arqana Breeze Up graduate Maaz was successful on debut at Wolverhampton for the Newland-Insole operation.

Galiway is also responsible for Harry Derham’s smart young four-year-old Matwana, who won a Doncaster maiden hurdle after Christmas by a cosy ten lengths. Admittedly she was helped by David Pipe’s filly Belfrina hitting the deck but still placed second behind her in a Listed race next time out, both having gone sixteen lengths clear of any other runners.

Willie Mullins understandably has a soft spot for the stallion given that he trained Vauban (prior to his selling for A$2 million to Australian Bloodstock) and he gave €90,000 for Kalix Delabarriere at the 2023 Arkle Sale. The gelding won a bumper at Ballinrobe on debut and earlier this year finished second in a maiden hurdle at Naas behind subsequent Grade 3 winner Ballybow.

Dual-Grade 1 winning mare Gala Marceau finished third at Warwick in a Listed Mares’ Chase earlier in February, last seen before that at Punchestown running up to Lossiemouth – she holds an entry for the Mares’ Hurdle. The Grade 1-placed Jimmy De Seuil, also a Mullins charge, holds two Festival entries also.

Galiway’s good reputation might well be further served by the potential exploits of his son Sealiway, who has retired to Haras de Beaumont, and whose first crop of yearlings will go through the ring later this year. Sealiway’s successes on the racecourse include the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the Champion Stakes at Ascot. He also finished second behind St Mark’s Basilica in the Prix du Jockey Club. It will be interesting to see if Sealiway can throw as nice a sales horse as his sire can. My guess is that they could be commercially popular as Sealiway was both speedier and earlier than his father.