Galilean Quality
Galilean Quality did really well to finish second in the Melrose Handicap at York on Saturday, staying on strongly from well back in the field. Settled back in the field early on, and still 17th of 17 with five furlongs to run, he stayed on well from the top of the home straight. He didn't have an uninterrupted passage either, he had to check at the two furlong marker, but he finished off his race strongly to take second place behind the impressive and progressive and well-backed Infraad.
The early pace was not strong, as evidenced by the winner's finishing speed of over 106% of overall speed. Galilean Quality's finishing speed was over 108%, fastest by some way. He was fastest of all through three of the last five furlongs, including the last two, and he was second fastest through the other two. He was 0.83secs faster than the next fastest through the final five furlongs.
Karl Burke's horse did well to get as close as he got in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, coming from well back in the field in a race in which the first four home raced in mid-division or better from early, and he stepped up on that when he went back to Ascot last month and stepped up in trip, staying on well to win a one-mile-six-furlong handicap. This was another step forward from that, and he can continue his progression. This is a good trip for him, but he should get further too.
York, 22nd August 2026
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