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With the ink barely dry on the announcement of their sire's retirement from active stud duty, the race to assume the mantle of rightful heir to the great Sadler's Wells in European breeding and racing is well and truly underway. With the classic winner Cima de Triomphe (IRE) (A++ TrueNicks rated) and the classic contenders New Approach (IRE)(A++), Leo's Starlet (IRE) (A), Lush Lashes (GB) (A++), and Adored (IRE) (A++), Galileo (IRE) has certainly spent most of 2008 following up on his excellent start to stud and proving himself very much the heir apparent.

However, not to be outdone, his Coolmore barn mate and paternal half brother Montjeu (IRE) had a field day on Friday in Europe with the win of Clowance (GB) (A++) who was cut to 8-1 in betting for the May 23 Juddmonte Oaks (gr. I) after running out a clear-cut winner of the Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial at Newbury, and the older horse Eradicate (IRE) (B+) in the McGrattan Piling Braveheart Stakes at Hamilton.

Clowance heads towards classic races and follows the win of Alessandro Volta (GB) (A++) in the group III Totesport.com Derby Trial at Lingfield earlier in the month (interestingly it was a Montjeu quinella with King Of Rome (IRE) (A++ ) finishing second in the race). Montjeu has a number of potential classic horses in Europe this season and - like Galileo - has already sired a classic winner in the shape of the David Jones Australian Derby (Aus-I) winner Nom du Jeu (NZ) (A++).

Filed under: Sire Lines, Recent Winners