3 minute read

Galileo’s classic winner The Gurkha is a candidate to shuttle to Australia in 2017 following confirmation that he will start his stud career in Ireland.

The Gurkha (Galileo x Chintz by Danehill Dancer) will retire to Coolmore Stud to stand alongside his champion sire after recovering well from colic surgery.

The winner of the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) in May, The Gurkha was second the G1 St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot won by Galileo Gold in June and was also second to Hawkbill in the G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 2.

The Gurkha then won the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood before suffering a colic attack in early August.

Bred by the Chintz Syndicate in Ireland, The Gurkha’s record stands at three wins and three placings from six starts.

“From day one he showed us that he was a top-class colt,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.

“He was always a beautiful mover and physically he was a great shape. He was a Galileo that always had a lot of speed but was also very courageous.”

The Gurkha is bred on a similar cross to Frankel, his dam Chintz being a G3 winner by Danehill Dancer from the family of Green Dancer.

The Gurkha is a full-brother to the Group placed Queen Nefertiti while his second dam is the French stakes winner Gold Dodger (Slew O’Gold), herself a half-sister to G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Solemia (Poliglote) and Group and Listed winners Prospect Park (Sadler’s Wells), Prospect Wells (Sadler’s Wells), Brooklyn’s Gold (Seeking the Gold) and Never Green (Halling).