Just last week we commented on the "deadly duo" of Kingmambo and Sadler's Wells mares and the success that this nick has had, despite the fact that these two stallions stood in separate countries. On the weekend there was another example of a potential "mega-nick," this one certain to be tried an awful lot more given that it is one for the home team of Coolmore Ireland.
The group I Derby Italiano, run over 2200m at Rome on Sunday, was won by the Brun Grizzetti-trained Cima de Triomphe (IRE). A son of the classic winner Galileo (IRE), Cima de Triomphe is out of a mare by Galileo's stablemate and one time shuttle partner Danehill. Cima de Triomphe follows that champion 2-year-old Teofilo (IRE), the group III winner Prima Luce (IRE) (out of a mare by Danehill's son Desert King (IRE)) and the Australian listed stakes winners Miss Galilei (AUS) and Banc De Fortune (AUS) as stakes winners by the leading son of Sadler's Wells.
Even allowing for the class of the horses being used, five stakes winners out of 19 named foals bred on the Galileo/Danehill nick is nothing short of outstanding. I don't think that it is far-fetched to suggest that the powers that be at Coolmore will use results like Cima de Triomphe to maximum advantage and ensure that a number of Danehill-line mares visit the court of Galileo in years to come.