Birch Grove 300th Stakes Winner for Galileo

Accolades are handed to Galileo on a regular basis as a stallion phenomenon but he reached a notable landmark in the relaxed surroundings of Clairefontaine July 29 as Birch Grove became his 300th stakes winner.

The David Simcock-trained filly is not exactly a household name from a roll call that takes in champions from Frankel to Highland Reel, New Approach, and Minding; in fact she was beaten in an Ascot handicap last time from a mark of 76.

However, she was on top of her game under Mickael Barzalona to thwart challengers down the home straight of the listed Prix Casino Tranchant de Villers-Sur-Mer (Prix Luth Enchantée) over a mile and a half, holding off the final challenge of Hermaphrodite by three-quarters of a length.

The triple century contains 198 group winners and 102 listed, contributing to his total haul of 651 black-type wins and counting—and he had already passed the total of 294 established by his father Sadler's Wells.

Galileo is still a little shy of Danehill's all-times stakes winners record of 347, but he is only 10 shy of passing that stallion's milestone 89 winners at group 1 or grade 1 level.

Birch Grove, bred by Glenvale Stud, originally ran for Jim and Fitri Hay but now races in the colors of the Rathordan Partnership. She had fallen short in one previous try at listed level but had minor victories at Wolverhampton and Windsor to her name before this triumph on the Normandy coast.

She is out of the Danehill mare Danehurst, a formidable performer for Cheveley Park Stud and Sir Mark Prescott who won group races throughout Europe, with her most notable coming in the Big Shuffle Flying Five Stakes (G2) at the Curragh. It puts Birch Grove in the family of the very smart Dazzle, among others.