I have mentioned how disappointed I have been with Frankel's 2yo offspring this season (2018). Bar one or two horses, it really has been a poor year with more horses floundering at nursery level that hitting the headlines with Pattern race success. I don't think one Frankel 2yo achieved that racing domestically. Kevin Ryan's East won at Group 3 at France. Let's have a quick look at the Frankels entered for the 1000 & 2000 Irish Guineas. I'll detail more about the Epsom Derby at a later date. So who do we have entered for the early Irish Classics? As you can imagine, it is a limited number. 1m Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) (Entire Colts & Fillies) (3yo) (25th May 2019) At present, there are 96 entrants so we have the world and his wife looking at this race. In fact, we only have one entrant for this race. Old Glory, trained by Aidan O'Brien. This son of Frankel got off to a flying start but had to settle for placed efforts next two starts at pattern class. Considering Aidan O'Brien has almost 30 entrants you really get a feel for the strength and depth of this stable. When you consider he has almost a third of the entrants. By all accounts, Old Glory will need to have some form of transformation to figure as a major hope. The fillies race is, perhaps, a little more interesting.
1m Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) (Fillies) (3yo) (26th May 2019) We have three Frankel entrants for this Classic. In fact, three high-profile trainers. Elizabeth Way is a daughter of Frankel, trained by M. Halford. This homebred in the ownership of Godolphin wasn't fancied on her debut at Naas and finished seventh. Needs to progress a lot to even register as a hope. It's good to see Saeed bin Suroor shine this season, from under the shadow of Charlie Appleby. Dubai Beauty has raced three times and another filly who needs a touch of inspiration to make the line up here. She won well on debut at Newmarket. The disappointed favourite when unplaced at Doncaster when contesting Group 2. Then, similarly, unplaced in seventh at Longchamp, France, when battling at Group 1. She wasn't beaten any real distance, less than three lengths behind at the line. The most interesting of the trio is Kevin Ryan's East, who was one of the few juveniles to pepper the headlines here and across the pond. A narrow victory on debut when racing over six furlongs. Then a smart win over seven furlongs at Group 3 at Saint-Cloud, France. There was excitement about her final start of the season when travelling to the United States competing at Churchill Downs in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf (Grade 1). Chad C. Browns' Newspaperofrecord who is supreme fashion by a lengthy six-and-three-quarter length. East ran on at the finish to nab second place. One of the more likely chances and real chance for Frankel to shine as a sire for this Classic. We will take a look at the English Guineas when the entrants are made.
Very few Frankel two-year-olds have hit the heights this season. In fact, generally, numbers of runners seem sparse. Taking a look at the declarations, I see two offspring are still entered for the Fillies' Mile (Group 1) to take place at Newmarket 12th October. At present, there is still 23 entrants, with a maximum of just twenty to take place on the day. The number to race is likely to be a lot less. Frankellina (William Haggas) This chestnut daughter of Frankel is out of a three-time winning mare, who only run four times in her full career. She concluded her victories with a Listed race success. Frankellina is a January foal and homebred in the familiar silks of A E Oppenheimer. She is unraced and priced 40/1 to win this contest over one mile. Dubai Beauty (Saeed bin Suroor) A lovely winning performance for this daughter of Frankel who showed real class over 7f at Newmarket priced 3/1. The sky looked the limit for this bay filly when returning to Doncaster and contesting the May Hill Stakes (Group 2). She was very well backed from 7-4 - 11-8f. However, this homebred struggled and finished seventh beaten ten lengths. It was interesting that the first four home were all big prices which suggest the favourite were below par. Saeed bin Suroor has done much better this season than last but a success in such a high-profile race would be a real feather in his cap after a few lean years. Dubai Beauty (pictured) is priced 14-1 and one of three juveniles still holding declarations for Godolphin (the other two for Charlie Appleby).
Well, last week saw an impressive Frankel debutant go in for Saeed bin Suroor. Dubai Beauty was well found in the betting and powered home in good fashion. Definitely the smartest Frankel two-year-old we have seen this season. I know many of you will state that we haven't seen many. I have to agree. However, a few have been showing a little bit more. Ralph Beckett's Fume ran much better stepping up in distance at Leicester although looks a nursery horse. He could well make up into a decent handicapper and likely to get a fair weight. One to consider for the future. May improve for stepping up in trip. A quick review of this week's two-year-olds. Friday 17th August, we see a couple. Debutant Cap Francais and the once-raced Fox Premier. The former is trained by Ed Walker, the latter by Andrew Balding. On Saturday, we see another Frankel filly who disappointed when 5/2f for John Gosden. Mehdaayih disappointed to some extent but gave the impression there is better to come. Race comments said: ''Unfurnished; sweating; held up in touch in the last quartet, effort 3f out, outpaced but headway into midfield and edged right over 1f out, no threat to leaders but kept on steadily inside final furlong (op 3/1)'' Plenty more Frankels coming soon...
It's been a slow start to proceedings. This year's batch of two-year-old Frankels have been kept under wraps. A couple have gone close. However, things are warming up as we saw a talented horse win on Saturday (4th August). Saeed bin Suroor, so much the poor relation to Charlie Appleby in recent years, may have something to smile about. The sun was shining at Newmarket after Dubai Beauty won well by one-and-a-half lengths in the Equine Hospital EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Plus 10) over 7f. This bay daughter of Frankel is out of a mare called Minidress, who won by four lengths on her debut back in 2011. She raced just four times for shamed trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni. Dubai Beauty was fancied to go well, backed to 3/1 in a ten-horse race. The first two pulled clear of the field. Race comments: ''Soon pressing leader, ridden 2f out, led 100y out and soon on top''. This February foal hasn't received any lofty race entries yet but it is only a matter of time before this bay filly steps up to Group class. See the race result here. Other Frankel 2yo declared to run this week. 10th August Haydock - Fume, trained by Ralph Beckett. Has raced a couple of times, made 15/8f on debut when showing little and then struggling 5th of six at Newbury when priced 6/1.
Unlike last season, there has been very few Frankel two-year-olds making an appearance so far. It's quite interesting why this is the case. It makes me think that the first season, especially, that his breeding campaign would bring about a steady stream of runners: early, middle and late season. As the formative season was such a success, they may have considered there was little else to prove. However, we are into August and we have seen about three or four juveniles. Very strange. I am intrigued to see how the rest of the season will pan out. Will we see a huge number of runners in the next four months? No idea. There must be a huge increased at some point because I can't imagine this will be a forgettable year. So have we got any two-year-old Frankels running this week? Take a look at these entries: Thursday: 4:45 Goodwood - Mehdaayih - trained by John Gosden. This bay daughter of Frankel, out of a mare called Sayyedati Symphony was entered to run the other week but didn't take part. She is pretty fancied in the betting at 9/2. It suggests this April foal has been ready to run for a while and likely to be fit. Gosden may well have been waiting for the right opportunity. This Class 2 race is worth over £15,000. I expect Mehdaayih to go well. Saturday: 3:15 Newmarket - Dubai Beauty - trained by Saeed bin Suroor Similarly, Dubai Beauty was entered to run last week but has been kept under wraps. This bay daughter of Frankel is out of a mare called Minidress who won on debut for Mamood Al Alzaroooni.
So we are still waiting for a top-class Frankel 2yo to hit the track this season.
Dubai Beauty is a bay filly and daughter of Frankel out of a mare named Minidress who was trained by disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni. She raced just four times in her career: twice at two and a couple of outings at three. She won easily by four lengths when making her debut over 7f at Newmarket. Then ran a very respectable race when fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Sahkee Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3) at Newmarket. Returning at three, she contested the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) where she finished 9th, beaten just over five lengths. Dropping back down to Listed class in her final racecourse appearance when stepping up to 1m 2f at Goodwood losing by a neck. Dubai Beauty is a home bred for Godolphin. She has received a number of entries for this week and looks likely to be hitting the track. 3 Racecourse entries: Thursday 7f Newbury Thursday 7f Ascot Friday 7f Thirsk
Other Frankel two-year-olds to run this week may include: 1:50 Sandown (Thursday, 26th) Cap Francais trained by Ed Walker in the ownership of John Pearce Racing Ltd. This home bred is out of the mare Miss Cap Ferrat (18 year old mare) who was trained by Geoff Wragg. She raced twice, showing limited ability. 6:40 Newmarket (Friday, 27th) Dombra trained by Hugo Palmer. Raced three times, going close on his second start but somewhat disappointing last time out.
