Galiesis (IRE) Upsets In Harbour City Stakes

Galiesis (IRE) (Gailieo (IRE) x Diesis (GB) x Cozzene), the brown three-year-old colt owned and trained by goldsmith of Goldsmith Stables, came out on top yesterday in the inaugural running of the Grade I Harbour City Stakes on the final race of the Saturday card. The handsome bay colt surged ahead of the two race favorites in the mile and one half race over the turf to win by two and one-half lengths and, by virtue of the Harbour City Stakes (G1) being in its first year, came away with a stakes record, 2:29 4.5 for the mile and a half turf race.

The Harbour City Stakes (G1) attracted a field of nine colts to the gates at post time. Wampus Cat (IRE) trained by snakebite and Muggsy (AUS) were both still listed as equal co-favorites when the nine horse field went to the gate at the start of the firm turf track. When the field exploded from the starting gates, the racer owned Silent Ajdal took the lead under jockey P. Kelly by two lengths over one of the races co-favorites, Wampus Cat (IRE). Just a length behind Wampus Cat (IRE) and in third was Barb’s A Cool CAt, a longshot owned and trained by heffbarn under jockey D. Aldridge. In a duel for the fourth position on the rail was Sky Happy (AUS) and Sixty Yard Bomb (NZ), trained by lodog20 and learfan55 respectively. Trailing the field out of the gates was the ceclaim11 trained Western Insight (SAF) who was eleven lengths off the pace early on

Further into the race, Silent Ajdal had extended his lead to two and one-fourth lengths over Wampus Cat (IRE) who was non-relenting in second place towards the outside of Silent Ajdal. The rest of the field maintained their positions with Barb’s Cool Cat still in third but beginning to drop back . Sixty Yard Bomb (NZ) had secured his position in fourth over Sky Happy (AUS) who was about a length behind Sixty Yard Bomb (NZ). The other co-favorite of our race, Muggsy (AUS) was running six and three-fourth lengths off the pace with the impressive Portugal The Man (IRE), owned by astinator two lengths back on the outside. Ten lengths back in eight would be our eventual winner, Galiesis (IRE) under jockey C. Shinkle, finding a hole on the rail and beginning to make a run for the lead. Still trailing the field as they came for the turn was Western Insight (SAF).

When the field came into the turn, Wampus Cat (IRE) had taken over the lead by three and three-fourths lengths over Silent Ajdal who was now in second but fading badly in the final stages of the Harbour City Stakes (G1). Muggsy (AUS) was making a strong bid towards the middle of the track and was now just four and one-fourth lengths away from the leader in the turn. Also dashing forward like a rocket on the inside of the track was Galiesis (IRE), making a stunning move on the rail from eighth into fourth and still gaining ground on the field. Portugal The Man (IRE) was also making a bid now and was in fifth. Barb’s Cool Cat, Sixty Yard Bomb and Sky Happy (AUS) were quickly fading. Western Insight (SAF) still trailed in the turn by twenty-four and a half lengths.

Now the nine horse field came for home. Galieis (IRE) continued to rocket forward on the rail and was quickly closing in on leading co-favorite Wampus Cat (IRE). Muggsy (AUS) was running in third but it was clear that he wasn’t going to catch either Galiesis (IRE) or Wampus Cat (IRE) today. It quickly became a showdown between Galiesis (IRE), the colt making his debut graded stakes start in the Harbour City Stakes (G1), and the co-favored Wampus Cat (IRE), who was also in his graded stakes debut. Galiesis (IRE) quickly went on by Wampus Cat to win the inaugural Harbour City Stakes (G1) by two and a half lengths with a speed figure of one hundred seven. The goldsmith camp was ecstatic as the bay colt scored his first stakes win of his career in this race. Second in the race was Wampus Cat (IRE) under jockey E. Lang and rounding out the board finishers was our other co-favorite, Muggsy (AUS) with jockey T. Brewer.

Also rans include: Portugal The Man (IRE), Silent Ajdal, Barb’s Cool Cat, Sixty Yard Bomb (NZ), Western Insight (SAF) and Sky Happy (AUS).