Ed Walker has always been a very talented trainer.
Last year his two-year-old string showed promise.
Kingsdown Stable had 20 two-year-old runners for the Flat turf season. Nina Bailarina proved a talented filly. This daughter Lope De Vega lost by a neck on debut, then slammed the opposition by five lengths when storming clear at Newmarket. Then a sterling effort at Maisons-Laffitte, France, when runner-up when losing by just half a length in the Prix Eclipse (Group 3). She was too keen to do herself justice when finishing last when taking part in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1). A concluding race in France saw a poor effort when a losing favourite at Chantilly when contesting the Prix Yacowlef (Listed Race).
I'm pretty sure Ed Walker's two-year-olds are going to be a different proposition this new season.
Why?
For starters, he has a greatly increased string of juveniles. From what I can see, Ed Walker's string of two-year-olds has burgeoned to forty.
Not only has his string increased, but the quality of horse and hefty price tags suggests he will be a powerhouse this season.
For instance, let's take a look at the two-year-old owner's:
Lady Bamford
Mr Laurence Bellman
Kangyu International Racing (HK) Ltd
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing
Mr David Ward
Nat Rothschild
Mr S Stuckey
Miss Kirsten Rausing
Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds
Mrs Fitri Hay
This brings us to the interesting part specific to Frankel Blog because Ed Walker has a couple (duo) of Frankel's offspring. As far as I'm aware, these are the first of his progeny at Kingsdown.
Firstly, we have BELOVED, a March bay filly, out of the mare Love And Bubbles, in the ownership of Mr David Ward. Bred by Love And Bubbles Partnership went through the yearling sales and cost 350,000GNS. The French-raced mare won twice from nine starts. Including a Listed race at Toulouse and a Group 3 victory at Chantilly. Both victories came over 8/9 furlongs. She achieved total prize winnings of £56,939. She will make an impact this season and a horse to take note of.
Ed Walker could be spoilt for choice with a second Frankel two-year-old (2yo). NAVEGAON GATE is a bay colt out of the dam Cascata, bred by Farm Cove Thoroughbreds Ltd. This April foal is homebred out of a debut winner at two, who raced just five times in total. In some respects, she was a fair performer achieving an official rating of 80 on concluding her career with total prize earning of just £6,703. Navegaon Gate is owned by Mr S Stuckey who is no stranger to talented horses.
So Ed Walker could well be a trainer going places this season. I am pretty sure he will make an impact this season and be noted by punters high and low.
Here's to a good season.
Take a look at Frankel's 2yo offspring here published on Juddmonte Stallion Frankel Two-year-Olds.
Want to know the best 2yo horses in training - visit Group Horse to get the inside deal. As a bonus get Easy Professional Gambler Mailing Series.
Nothing abusive here.
We are only interested in pure Frankel.
So, what's all this about the C word. Just a couple of Frankel two-year-olds declared to run on Saturday, both at Haydock.
1:30 Haydock -
1m (1m37y) Smarkets British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Class 5) (2yo)
Ralph Beckett has at least three Frankel two-year-olds this season. Our recent post about Top Top and Fume who hasn't shown too much ability as yet.
Chartered is a homebred daughter of Frankel is out of a winning but limited mare. Chartered was fancied in the betting when making her debut at Newmarket over 7f. She finished a creditable fourth behind Sir Michael Stoute's Layaleena, who disappointed next time out under a penalty. The form of that debut has been franked by a number of horses including Dandhu, Canton Queen, Mot Juste & Imperial Charm.
Interesting to see how Chartered goes here. Stepping up to one mile should help.
2:40 Haydock -
1m (1m37y) Smarkets British EBF Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 4) (2yo)
Ed Walker has a small string of two-year-olds but he does remarkably well with them and excellent at placing his horses. Cap Francais is a bay son of Frankel out of a limited filly named Miss Cap Ferrat, trained by Geoff Wragg, back in the day. Cap Francais won well next start at Salisbury shooting clear by three-and-a-quarter lengths at odds of 8/13f. Has to defy a win penalty.
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 still slow work with a distinct lack of Frankel two-year-olds. Well, perhaps I should say Frankel debutantes (there is one, so fingers crossed).
There are three or four with experience entered to go this week. Here's a quick rundown.
Fume, trained by Ralph Beckett:
This bay son of Frankel has been a bitter disappointment on two starts to date. A very poor/disappointing effort on debut at Doncaster when made 15/8f. He finished eleventh of fourteen. He was relatively fancied next star when 6/1 at Newbury over 6f. Not beaten a country mile but still only fifth of six. Interesting to see if those two efforts were disappointing or simply hiding a decent type who hasn't had much luck.
Racing in the ownership of Mr and Mrs David Ackroyd, connections are stepping this colt up in distance.
Fume has two entries:
Sunday:
(Overnight) at Leicester British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (7f)
Tuesday, 14 August 2018 - 2:45
(Four day) at Ffos Las Download The Free At The Races App Novice Stakes (7½f)
Dombra, trained by Hugo Palmer:
This January foal and bay son of Frankel is a home-bred in the ownership of V I Araci. He has been relatively fancied on all four starts to date over 7f. The best effort coming back in June when runner-up at Salisbury to Forseti. Ran poorly on his third start, then 7th last time out when attempting a Nursery on an official rating of 80. Now dropped 3lb and stepping up in distance, this colt is becoming disappointing.
Dombra has one entry:
Monday, 13 August 2018 - 6:30
(Overnight) at Windsor Prosecco At Venus Wine And Spirits Nursery Handicap (1m)
Cap Francais, trained by Ed Walker:
Walker has a couple of decent two-year-olds this season so if fancied in the betting it would be a positive. This bay colt is a son of Frankel out of a twice-run, limited mare. He is owned and bred by John Pearce Racing Ltd.
Cap Francais has two entries:
Tuesday, 14 August 2018 - 2:45
(Four day) at Ffos Las Download The Free At The Races App Novice Stakes (7½f)
Friday, 17 August 2018 - 1:50
(Five day) at Newbury Don Deadman Memorial EBF Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (7f)
Fox Premier, trained by Andrew Balding:
This son of Frankel has raced once for Balding in the ownership of King Power Racing Co Ltd. This 700,000 guinea yearling purchase made his debut at Sandown over 7f, priced 11/4. He finished 6th, beaten over eight lengths, steadily outpaced behind a few capable sorts. Clearly better was expected and there should be more forthcoming on this second start. A Champagne Stakes (Group 2) entry adds to confidence.
Fox Premier has three entries:
Friday, 17 August 2018 - 1:50
(Five day) at Newbury Don Deadman Memorial EBF Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (7f)
Saturday, 15 September 2018 - 3:00
(Early closer) at Doncaster Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (7f)
Saturday, 01 June 2019 - 4:30
(Early closer) at Epsom Investec Derby (Group 1) (Entire Colts & Fillies) (1m4f)
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.
