The second last crop of foals by Galileo are 3YO’s and they are making their presence felt with blue-blood colt First Minister opening his stakes account to win the Group III Prix Hocquart (2200m), while the Bob Scarborough bred stayer Roberto Escobarr took the Group III Henry II Stakes (2m) at Sandown to give the legendary sire a Group double.
Trained by Andre Fabre for the Coolmore partners, three year-old colt First Minister was having his first try at a Black Type race and scored a length and a half win at Longchamp, his second from four starts.
Firs
t Minister is the first stakes-winner among five winners from Naples Bay, a Group III winning half-brother by Giant’s Causeway to triple Group I winner and champion sire Medaglia D’Oro.
First Minister is the fifth stakes-winner so far from the second last crop of Galileo foals and his 364th lifetime stakes-winner.
Making it a Group double for Galileo was the William Haggas trained six year-old gelding Roberto Escobarr, who was a hot favourite at Sandown in the Group III Henry II Stakes and was tenacious to the line in scoring a half length win.
He missed virtually all of last year through injury so is lightly raced for his age and best might be still to come.
Bred in partnership by Australian breeder Bob Scarborough, Roberto Escobarr was sold for €145,000 at the 2018 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale and has won three races and placed four times from 12 starts with this victory his second Black Type success.
He is a full brother to Group III winner Pablo Escobarr from Group III winning Dansili mare Bewitched.
