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Gallo Del Cielo was a versatile horse that competed in one discipline, but found success as a sire in another. He has left a lasting mark across the Western performance horse industry. • Photo by John Brasseaux.

From the Archives: Gallo Del Cielo

Gallo Del Cielo was a cutting horse, but is known for siring Western performance horses whose talents reached far beyond the deep sand of a cutting arena. 

His influence is now felt in many disciplines, ranging from his original pursuit of cutting to the sport of reining, where he found even more success.

Cutting Beginnings

The 1989 bay stallion was bred by Harold “Spook” Stream III, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and owned by Oxbow Ranch of Weatherford, Texas and Rooster Limited Syndicate of Poolville, Texas, throughout his performance career. 

Ridden by National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Hall of Fame Inductee Gary Bellenfant, Gallo Del Cielo, also known as “Rooster,” earned $28,438 in the cutting pen. His most notable finish was a seventh-place tie in the Derby Open at the Chisolm Trail Derby and Classic Open, good for $8,744.

Sired by Peppy San Badger, and out of Doc’s Starlight by Doc Bar, Rooster was a full brother to notable sires Grays Starlight (Equi-Stat Elite$12 Million Sire) and Paddys Irish Whiskey (Equi-Stat Elite$1 Million Sire).


Cutting Horse To … Reining Sire?

Much like his brothers, Rooster was pointed towards cutting cows. However, it was in the breeding shed that Rooster’s legacy pivoted to becoming a reining sire. His offspring demonstrated a flair for the reining maneuvers, leading Rooster to become a National Reining Horse Association Four Million Sire.

According to Equi-Stat, Rooster’s offspring has won more than $6 million – and roughly $4.1 million of that was in reining. Eight of his foals have broken the $100,000 mark in earnings, with reiners The Wizster (Rooster x Miss Whizard Jac x Whizard Jac) Lena Gallo (Rooster x Heavenly Doc x Doc O’Lena) leading the pack with $206,459 and $178,667, respectively. 

Roosters’ sons and daughters also shined as reined cow horses. His leading cow horse earner is the versatile Roo Star (Rooster x Anna Paulena x Doc O’Lena), who earned $125,639 in more than four disciplines. 

His daughters also have proven to be good producers, with mares sired by the great stallion foaling the winners of more than $1.8 million in the sport of reining alone, according to Equi-Stat.

Rooster passed away in August of 2015 due to an accident at the age of 26. He is remembered as a reining industry outcross and a versatile sire.