Galileo Chrome and Shane Crosse© Photo Healy Racing
Up in trip and up in grade he may have been but Galileo Chrome took it in his stride, impressing in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes at Navan.
Most valuable event on the programme at Proudstown Park, this mile five heat saw Galileo Chrome complete a double for the Joseph O’Brien yard after the win of the Mikey Sheehy-ridden Tar Heel in the opener.
Shane Crosse donned the silks of the Galileo Chrome Partnership aboard the Australia colt, and he raced in fifth on the three-year-old.
Taking closer order early in the straight the O’Brien runner led two furlongs out.
Soon pushed along and edging left, Galileo Chrome was ridden and drew clear inside the final furlong, staying on well to triumph by five lengths from Emperor Of The Sun
The runner-up represents Joseph’s brother Donnacha, on the score-sheet elsewhere on the card, as was father Aidan.
“Shane said he's an absolute dream as he's switched off over that trip,” said assistant Brendan Powell.
“He said he quickened up lovely and when Gavin came up his inside he thought he was in trouble for a minute but he said he just had a little look around in front.
“I know he took it up a long way out in Leopardstown but he's still a big baby. The way he galloped away in the last half furlong made a big difference.
“Please God he's a proper horse. He's got a massive future. He's answered a lot of questions today, he stays well and he has the speed to go a mile-and-a-quarter as well.
“Would he be a Leger horse? - that's completely up to Joseph and the owners. He's going the right direction and the world is his oyster at the minute.
“He's got everything to him, he's got size, power and he relaxes as well. When you've got all that together you'd think he's going to be a good horse.”
(GC & EM)
