Just Four Foals and a G1 Winner: The Remarkable Story Behind Heliostatic and Honest Boy

The newly crowned Gran Premio 25 de Mayo winner hails from a tiny crop by the European stallion, who once again showcases his remarkable efficiency with numbers that continue to amaze

Heliostatic was the first son of Galileo to reach the winner’s circle / COOLMORE

By Diego H. Mitagstein

Did you know, dear reader, that Honest Boy, the standout hero of last Sunday’s Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) at San Isidro, is one of just four foals born in the 2021 crop by the stallion Heliostatic?

It’s a truly remarkable stat—one that only reaffirms the rare potency of a stallion with immense talent, who, beyond his first crop, never really received full backing from Haras Santa María de Araras, the farm that imported him from Europe in 2012.

Now standing at Julio Bozano’s main property in Brazil, the chestnut’s numbers are impressive from every angle: 162 runners, 96 winners, 16 stakes winners, and 5 individual Group 1 winners.

Heliostatic is part of a select group of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) sons who have carried on the legacy in Argentina, alongside names like Treasure Beach, Cima de Triomphe, Sixties Icon, and John F Kennedy—all proven producers of Group 1 winners.

And there’s another fascinating footnote: Heliostatic was the first winner sired by Galileo, breaking his maiden on July 17, 2005, at The Curragh, marking the beginning of the Coolmore icon’s legendary journey.

The promise was always there. Bred, trained, and raced by Jim Bolger, Heliostatic enjoyed a solid racing career in the UK and Ireland, capturing the Meld Stakes (G3) and Silver Stakes (L) at three, while also finishing second in the 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes (L) and the Heritage Stakes (L), and third in the Alleged Stakes (L). He also contested three Group 1s: sixth in the Irish 2000 Guineas, seventh behind Dylan Thomas in the Irish Derby, and ninth to Notnowcato in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Retired to stud, Heliostatic began his stallion career in 2008 at Oak Lodge Stud in Ireland, later covering one season in France before relocating to Argentina and settling at Araras.

Genetically, Heliostatic is a blueprint of class. His dam, Affianced (Erins Isle), was a stakes winner herself and blossomed as a broodmare, producing Soldier of Fortune (Galileo), a Group 1 winner of both the Irish Derby and Coronation Cup, plus stakes winner Carraiglawn (Rock of Gibraltar) and Ard Fheis (Lils Boy), the dam of G2-placed Young Ireland (New Approach).

Affianced was also a half-sister to Sholokhov (Sadler’s Wells), winner of Italy’s Gran Criterium (G1), and to three elite-producing mares: Aspiration, Raghida, and Zavaleta, the latter two both black-type performers.

The family keeps on giving. Aspiration is the second dam of Subjectivist (Teofilo), winner of the Ascot Gold Cup(G1); Raghida produced G3 winner Flight Risk (Teofilo) and stakes winner Marionnaud; while Zavaleta appears in the pedigrees of Group 1 winners like Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy), Intense Focus (Giant’s Causeway), Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Muhaarar), and most recently, Asper Grove (Justify).

With his breakthrough in the 25 de Mayo, Honest Boy joined He Runs Away, Hole In One, Fanciful, and Touch of Pink on the list of top-level winners for Heliostatic.

The stallion has also sired multiple stakes winners such as Carta de Amor, Dancing Again, Fantastic Planet, Tivoli Park, Jolly Good, Vivacita, Passeggio, French Twist, Perfect Love, Our Little Girl, and Qué Pesto—many of them excelling over a mile and beyond.

He may have arrived in Argentina quietly, but over the years Heliostatic has proven himself a stallion of exceptional generosity—one now renewed by Honest Boy, the new standard bearer of his penultimate local crop.