The Coolmore empire might have been in mourning for their champion sire Galileo on Sunday, but on the racetrack it was business as usual with Aidan O’Brien producing the winners of both the Group I Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes in Bolshoi Ballet (Galileo) and the Group I Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes with Santa Barbara (Camelot).
Bolshoi Ballet disappointed as favourite in the Epsom Derby, but showed his class when taking this 2000m contest by a length and a quarter to become the 92nd Group I winner worldwide for Galileo.
“This horse, we know he gets the 10 [furlongs] very well. It was a messy race and he won comfortably without being able to show how good he is,” said winning rider Ryan Moore.
“We're happy with him. He's the most beautiful horse you'll see. He's a real athlete. He's a class horse.”
With four wins from seven starts, Bolshoi Ballet is a full brother to Southern France, who won the 2019 MRC Group II Zipping Classic and is now permanently in Australia being trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. He was last seen finishing eighth in the Group I ATC Sydney Cup behind Selino.
Santa Barbara had been knocking on the door in Group I races this year, most recently second in the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and broke the ice to win her first stakes race in the Belmont Oaks over 2000m.
She won by half a length, but Ryan Moore felt it was the easiest of wins.
“It was quite a steadily run race,” said Moore.
“She's got class. She’s got ability. She won without me moving a muscle... I had to go out one switch (path) and I didn’t want to, but I had to. We’re lucky we got out in time. She did it very easily. I’m very happy with her.”
A half-sister to Group I winners Order of Australia and Iridessa, Santa Barbara has two wins from five starts and is the third Group I winner form unraced Danehill mare Senta’s Dream, a daughter if dual US Group I winner Starine.
Santa Barbara is the eighth Group I winner for Camelot, whose outstanding dual Group I winning son Russian Camelot (IRE) will stand at Widden Stud Victoria this spring at a fee of $22,000.
