Frankel Watch: Frankel Hopes Step Up for Superlative Stakes at Newmarket

Looking forward to Newmarket this Saturday. 

Plenty of horse racing fans will be anticipating the Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1), which is part of the British Champions Series. Martyn Meade's Advertise is priced 11/4f for a winner's prize of £285,550. 

For two-year-old racing enthusiasts, the bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2) will be something to savour. 

This Class 1 race has a rich heritage. Taking place on the July Course at Newmarket over 7f. Formerly known as the Bernard van Custom Stakes, named after a successful racehorse breeder and trainer who died in 1975.  He trained many talented horses including High Top who won the 2,000 Guineas in 1972. 

The race was named the Superlative Stakes in 1991. It honours Superlative, the winner of the July Stakes in 1983. 

Originally holding Listed status this race was upgraded to Group 3 in 2003, then to its present lofty standing in 2006. 

The Superlative Stakes saw jockeys Steve Cauthen and Pat Eddery win the race fours times (since 1986). 

Sir Henry Cecil made this race his own with 9 wins spanning 1986 - 2000. Probably the best of the lot Be My Chief, who won in 1989. He went on to win the Racing Post Trophy in the same year. 

A number of exceptional horses have won this race before going on to prove star performers. 

In 2004, Dubai won for Saeed bin Suroor, ridden by Frankie Dettori. He went on to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas. 

The greatest success of them all being Olympic Glory in 2012, trained by Richard Hannon Jr. and ridden by Richard Hughes. Awarded equal top-rated British two-year-old 2012 and World top-rated three-year-old colt 2013. 

Last year saw Charlie Appleby's Quorto win ''very readily'' by over three lengths, ridden by William Buick. Quorto went on the finish his two-year-old season with a hattrick of wins when tasting victory at the Curragh in the National Stakes (Group 1). 

This year's race is all the more intriguing for Frankel Blog with not one but two Frankel-sired two-year-olds declared to run. 

Kevin Ryan's Juan Eclano hasn't been seen for over a month since winning on debut at Haydock by a neck when starting 6/4f. This chestnut son of Frankel is priced 8/1. 

Mark Johnston has *Fred who proved a disappointment on debut when made favourite but finished last. However, this small son of Frankel proved that initial support wasn't misjudged when he led all the way at Leicester to hold on by an outstretched nose. 

Charlie Appleby fields King's Command for Godolphin who is 5/2f. 

*Just eight runners with Fred being omitted at the final declaration stage.   

The Superlative Stakes (group 2) takes place on Saturday 13th July, 2:55 Newmarket on the July Course over 7f. 

Good luck to all connections.  

Frankel Watch: Frankel's Storm Ready to Roll in for Mark Johnston

I must apologise for the lack of recent updates. I've been busy working on the two-year-old horse racing which is my priority and then travelled From the Fens to West Palm Beach, Florida. I'll be staying here for the next couple of months. 

Good to get back to the Frankel Blog. 

Exciting times for horse racing syndicate Nick Bradley Racing 13. These racing silks have been blessed with a number of very talented horses over the years. I can imagine this syndicate are particularly hopeful as they get to grips with a Frankel two-year-old (2yo). 

Frankel's Storm is a bay filly, born on the 14th February 2017. She is out of a three-time winning mare Gale Force who was trained by James Fanshawe, owned and bred by T G R Vesty.  Her final race concluded with a Listed victory at Saint-Cloud, France. She raced just 11 times in her career. She enjoyed a test of stamina and testing ground conditions racing over 1m 2f - 2m. The highest class of competition being Group 2. An official rating 96 detailed a class horse. 

Readers may remember we noted another Mark Johnston-trained Frankel two-year-old, Fred, who disappointed on debut but then went on to win at Leicester with a gutsy front-running display to hang on by a nose.  

Looking at the two-year-old crop on Juddmonte Stallions, Mark Johnston has, at present, four Frankel two-year-olds in his care. 

• Fred
• Unnamed bay colt out of Lamar bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd
• Unnamed bay colt out of Riberac bred by Mr & Mrs G Middlebrook

Frankel's Storm was bred by Normandie Stud from Watership Down Stud. She was purchased by Nick Bradley/Mark Johnston at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1) for 130,000 guineas. [11th October 2018, Lot 382].   

Considering the stallion fee for Frankel is set at £175,000 this looks a very good buy. 

Frankel's Storm is entered to race at Newmarket (1:50) on Saturday, in the Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Plus 10) (7f). 

Click here to see the race declarations. 

At present, there are 23 horse declared with a maximum of 20 runners on the day (it will be significantly less on the day of the race).

Update: Great to see Frankel's Storm is one of 8 two-year-olds making the line-up. Nick Bradley's filly has been made favourite [3/1] so clearly expecting a bold show. 

Wins easily on the third start at Carlisle. (Well done). 

Good luck to connections. 

Related post: Fred Makes Return for Mark Johnston after Disappointing Debut 

Frankel Watch: Fred Makes Return for Mark Johnston after Disappointing Debut

Mark Johnston has a decent string of two-year-olds. You have only to look this Saturday when Kingsley Park Stables sent out Visinari who won well at Newmarket. Ryan Moore gave the grey son of Dark Angel a front-running ride to win by three-and-a-half lengths. 

So, that's all good and well. However, what the hell happened to Fred on debut?

I imagine a lot of punters are thinking the same thing. If you don't know anything about Fred, I'm talking about Mark Johnston's son of Frankel out of the dam called Deirdre. She won on her second start, racing just six times, placed at listed class. An official rating of 99. 

Fred may be something of an ugly duckling (or was) because there must have been a very good reason he fetched 145,000 guineas at the yearling sales. For followers of Frankel, you know why I say that because his stallion fee is set at £175,000. Which means this February foal should, ideally, have fetched more money. 

We wrote about this juveniles before his debut which can be read here: Fred to Make his Debut for Mark Johnston

I told a couple of people about Fred, even before the two-year-old season started. All looked promising when starting 11/4f at Ayr on debut. 

He finished eight of eight. Went out like a light!

To be fair the race saw a couple of bright prospects with Karl Burke's Lord Of The Lodge won well while Clay Regazonni ran a fine race in second beating the third by a yawning eight lengths. Fred finished last beaten 19-lengths. Clearly, that wasn't his running. I think we can all appreciate that. Well, we hope that is the case. 

I notice Fred has been given a couple of race entries this week. 

This Epsom Derby entrant has three possible engagements this week:

Thursday, 13 June 2019 - 2:00 (Four day) at Newbury Be Wiser Insurance Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (6½f) 

Thursday, 13 June 2019 - 7:00 (Four day) at Haydock Revive Asset Ltd Ripponden Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (6f) 

Friday, 14 June 2019 - 2:35 (Four day) at Sandown British EBF Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (7f)

Frankel Watch 2019: Fred to Make his Debut for Mark Johnston

Mark Johnston has made a promising start to the two-year-old season. Readers may have seen Misty Grey scorch home by seven lengths at Ripon. All the more impressive after this son of Dark Angel disappointed on debut at Lingfield. 

Taking a look at Juddmonte Frankel page, Mark Johnston has at least four Frankel two-year-olds in training (he probably has more but some are unnamed). 

These include three unnamed juveniles (two colts and one filly). Thankfully, the only named colt is Fred, who is entered to run at Ayr on Wednesday 2pm. 

This February foal is a chestnut son of Frankel out of a winning mare [Deirdre, who was trained by John Gosden]. Interesting to note that Fred cost 145,000 guineas at the yearling sales. That point alone is a matter for debate when you consider the stallion fee for Frankel is set at £175,000. This suggests Fred wasn't the pick of the crop as you would expect this youngster to have fetched well over the stallion fee. 

Alan J Burke looks to be a new owner to the racing game as I cannot see where he has had horses running in the last five years. 

Fred is worth noting as he has received a Class 2 Stakes entry, which suggests this colt has been showing up on the gallops. 

The betting suggests this juvenile is expected to run a big race being priced 2/1 at the time of writing. 

I often find Johnston's two-year-old debutantes' easy winners or poor losers. Fred is the first of this year's juvenile Frankel for Kingsley Park Stables. 

A horse to follow.   

Three Flat Turf Horses to Follow in 2019/20 Season

It won’t be long until the leading Flat turf horses return to the racecourse after their winter break for the 2019/10 campaign. The May meeting at Newmarket, the 1000 & 2000 Guineas are some of the leading events in the early stages of the season, while all roads then lead to the Epsom Derby come June. 

Here is a look at three horses to follow during the new season which could help it become a profitable Flat turf campaign for you as a punter. These Frankel offspring are leading hopes for a winning season. 

East

East had to settle for second place last season in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Juvenile Fillies Turf 2018 behind the exceptionally talented Newspaperofrecord at Churchill Downs on the ''Future Stars Friday'' program. 

Kevin Ryan's daughter of Frankel proved a class two-year-old and one of the better fillies seen in a progressive campaign. Owners, East Partnership, must be hoping their talented chestnut filly holds every chance in the Irish 1000 Guineas. At present, she is one of eighty-one three-year-olds to hold an entry for this Class race run over one mile at the Curragh.  Interesting to note why she hasn't been entered to run in the English 1000 Guineas. This daughter of Frankel is out of a talented mare in Vital Statistics who readers may remember was trained by David Elseworth. She achieved two wins, one at Listed class, although competed at Group 1 level (including a long way behind Finsceal Bio in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas, 2007). 

East proved a talented winning on debut at Hamilton over 6f. She won by half a length at odds of 9/4. Next came a sparkling two-and-a-half length victory when travelling to Saint Cloud. Stepping up to seven furlongs, she won ''comfortably'' at Group 3 class. 

Her concluding effort saw a second at Churchill Downs (Grade 1), taking over £125,000 in prize money.

Fred 

Mark Johnston is a trainer who knows how to win with talented juveniles aiming for Royal Ascot, perhaps taking the Coventry Stakes (Group 2). One Frankel two-year-old who is worth noting is the well-named Fred. This chestnut colt is out of a mare called Deirdre bred by Normandie Stud Ltd. A horse worth following this season.     

Zabeel King  

One two-year-old with a connection to East is Zabeel King, who is, in fact, a full brother to Kevin Ryan's filly, out of the mare Vital Statistics. This February foal must have cost a pretty penny considering the achievements of this sister and the fact that the stallion fee for Frankel is £175,000. 

Frankel Watch 2019: Mark Johnson to Train Frankel Two-year-olds (Fred)

A new Flat turf season brings opportunities to stables large and small. 

One trainer who needs no introduction is Mark Johnston who trains at Kingsley Park Stables, Middleham. Leyburn, North Yorkshire is always a hive of activity with a vast string of two-year-olds. Not a year goes by that this talented trainer doesn't achieve success with horses running at the highest level. 

I'm not sure if he has trained many offspring of Frankel, that that is all about to change. Searching for information at Juddmonte Stallions, I noticed Mark Johnston is training a Frankel colt named Fred. This February foal is a chestnut colt out of a mare named Deirdre, bred by Normandie Stud Ltd and now in the ownership of The Burke Family.  

The mare was similarly owned and bred but trained by John Gosden. Three previous covers have yielded winners. Her racecourse career saw her race just six times: winning on her second start at Newcastle over one mile. Racing at Group 3, her best performance came at Goodwood when placed at Listed class. Deirdre concluded her race career at three. 

At the time of writing this post, Mark Johnston has four Frankel two-year-olds in his ranks. It will be interesting to see how Fred goes.