On other matters, there are lots of rumours flying that Galileo’s career may be coming to an end. He’s “having problems” but so far no one seems to know if that is fertility related (not getting the mares in foal) or libido (unwilling/unable to cover). Poor chap is 23 now and has had numerous colic surgeries over the years.
His own sire, Sadler’s Wells, kept covering until he was 27 though on much reduced books by the end. He had 3 years in retirement before passing at the ripe old age of 30. There is a tendency to keep them covering if fertility allows. Stallions are very much creatures of habit and to have spent 20-odd years with a constant stream of mares and then to have none is probably quite unsettling for them. I saw the great Danzig in retirement during a visit to Kentucky and he looked miserable - arthritic and confined to his box the majority of the time, it would have been far kinder to put him down. I think he died a year or so after I’d seen him.
Hopefully they will put the well being of the horse the highest priority. If he has had "numerous colic surgeries" I do wonder
Got to protect the cash cow. They have nothing to replace him with, certainly from an income perspective, though Wootton Bassett is starting to really roll so could be their saviour.
Lochnavar - non-runner Find - unplaced (but ran with promise) Franklet - non-runner Frankenstella - 2nd L’Avvocato - 2nd
