'She's the most beautiful filly' - Stylistique set for Galileo covering

A covering with perennial champion sire Galileo awaits Stylistique after the Listed-winning four-year-old bowed out with a fine second in the Group 2 Balanchine at Meydan on Thursday.

Owned and bred by Yvonne Jacques, Stylistique was a smart performer for Roger Varian at two - her best effort being when finishing second to dual Group 1 runner-up Daahyeh in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket - before shelving her maiden tag on her first start at three at Newbury.

A proud Jacques said: "She's the most beautiful filly and has done really well for me. I've been a big fan of her sire Dansili since the Harbinger days and Sleek is one of my key broodmares. She had a foal by Bated Breath that sold very well, so I'm very into that sireline."

Stylistique (right): Rockfel Stakes runner-up at two and twice Group 2-placed at fourCredit: Edward Whitaker

Stylistique - the third foal out of Jacques' winning Oasis Dream mare Sleek - added a deserved stakes success to her CV when winning the Prix Petite Etoile at Deauville at the backend of last term before two Group 2 seconds at Meydan this winter.

Of the decision to send her to Coolmore's supersire, Jacques said: "I'm really hoping she's going to be a good broodmare so I felt I should send her to the best."

Jacques also reported that the 11-year-old Sleek would likewise be travelling to Ireland for a covering by a Coolmore sire, adding: "She's very well-bred herself and will be visiting Wootton Bassett.

"I've got a good line going there and by sending them to two good stallions - I'm excited by Wootton Bassett - hopefully it will all work out well."

Sleek - a winner on the all-weather for Marco Botti - is out of an unraced full-sister to Prix Marcel Boussac winner Sulk, who in turn was a half-sister to Beverly D and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victress Dank and Derby runner-up and Hong Kong Cup victor Eagle Mountain.

Sleek is a full-sister to Group 3 scorer Bye Bye Birdie, the dam of two black-type performers, including Irish St Leger Trial winner Delphi.

Read more

Godolphin and Dettori's first British Classic winner Balanchine dies aged 30

Meet the Coolmore stallion man who led Sadler's Wells and Galileo to greatness

Watch here! Frankel's son Without Parole's daily routine at Newsells Park Stud