Russian Emperor the jewel in the crown for Atlantic and Galileo

Russian Emperor became the 93rd individual Group 1 winner for the late, great Galileo when pulling over four lengths clear of a quality field in the Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.

An 11-2 second-favourite behind odds-on shot Golden Sixty, the five-year-old put daylight between himself and Anodin gelding Savvy Nine, with Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty just over a length further back in third.

Bred by Coolmore, Laurie Macri and partners, Russian Emperor began his career in the hands of Aidan O'Brien, finishing third on his only start at two before winning on his three-year-old debut at Naas that March.

He was second to Cormorant in Leopardstown's Derby Trial before winning the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, defeating the Queen's First Receiver, before finishing seventh behind Serpentine when well fancied in the Derby.

Having been sold to join the Douglas Whyte yard later that year, Russian Emperor took a while to warm to the task in Hong Kong, but coming into Sunday's race he had finished third in a brace of Group 1s, the Hong Kong Cup and Stewards' Cup.

His success in this mile and a quarter contest under Blake Shinn was his first since switching stables and continents.

Russian Emperor is the third foal out of the Fastnet Rock mare Atlantic Jewel, a four-time top-level winner in Australia and a close relation to another Group 1 winner in Commanding Jewel.

The pair are out of an Australian winner who is in turn out of a half-sister to Cheveley Park Stakes winner Embassy and Group 2 scorer Tarfshi. It is also the family of Cheveley Park winner and French 1,000 Guineas second Pass The Peace.

Atlantic Jewel, who sadly died as a 12-year-old in 2020, has also produced the winning Galileo colt Pacific Ocean.

Russian Emperor's victory took Galileo's Group 1 individual winner haul further ahead of Danehill, who is on 84. Galileo died aged 23 last July but, with a number of exciting younger performers on the scene and more crops to come, the record-breaking son of Sadler's Wells could well reach 100 top-level winners.

Bolshoi Ballet became his 92nd such winner in the Belmont Derby on the day of his sire's death. He remains in training with Aidan O'Brien as a four-year-old.

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