Anthony Van Dyck looks to copy Galileo’s success

Horse Racing
Anthony Van Dyck looks to copy Galileo's success

Anthony Van Dyck is looking to emulate his father Galileo by adding the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes to his Derby win.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien enjoyed his first success in both the Epsom and Ascot showpiece races 18 years ago thanks to Galileo.

He has enjoyed six more Derby wins since then, but only this year has he decided to pitch the Epsom victor Anthony van Dyk into the King George.

The three-year-old will go into the race on the back of losing out to stablemate Sovereign in the Irish Derby at the Curragh four weeks ago.

But O’Brien is hopeful that he can return to winning ways at Ascot, despite having the likes of Enable and Crystal Ocean to overcome.

He said: ‘He is getting weight, but the weight for age is there for a reason, because he is only a three-year-old and most of his rivals are four and five-year-olds.

‘I suppose this was always one of the races the lads (owners Coolmore) had pencilled in for him – it was part of the original plan, and we didn’t see any reason why to change it after the Curragh.

‘We think he has always been versatile as regards to ground.’

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