Not too much to talk about of late.
Well, two-year-old Frankel offspring, which this website is dedicated. We've seen a number of high-profile juvenile races over the last week or so but a distinct lack of the great sire himself.
Let's take a quick look at the 2yo entries for the week.
Monday - 1:55 Gowran Park
King's Vow makes a return for Joseph O'Brien after showing little on debut. This bay colt finished down the field in 9th place when racing over course and distance. This March foal was priced 9/1. The betting [20/1] suggests he has something to prove.
Wednesday - 2:20 Bath
Interesting to see how Gantier goes on debut here for John Gosden. This bay gelding is a son of Frankel out of a French-winning mare who concluded her career racing at Listed class. Clearly, this youngster is looking for a test of stamina starting at 1m 2f.
Wednesday - 2:30 Nottingham
John Gosden sends out the twice-raced Mehdaayih who has been a beaten favourite when finishing sixth and second, respectively. This bay filly was given a significant entry but it looks like connections need to lower their sights for the moment. The mare wasn't up to much and didn't win in her racing career when trained by Clive Brittain. Stepping up by half a furlong. Will most likely start favourite. Connections will be hoping she can win and be a broodmare. That looks well within her capabilities.
Friday - 5:15 Haydock
Fume has proven to be a disappointing horse this season. Crashed out on debut when favourite and struggled ever since. Ralph Beckett has been in fine form of late so he will be hoping a bit of sparkle can rub off onto this gelding who has an official rating of 69. A homebred who most certainly would have been better off going to the yearling sales.
Saturday - 4:05 Doncaster
It will be interesting to see if Old Glory runs in the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) after looking less than impressive when second at odds-on to Joseph O'Brien's No Needs Never at Dundalk on the 5th October. With forty-nine still declared you wouldn't hold your breath on seeing him take part. Fox Vardy is entered in this race for Martyn Meade. Has proven very disappointing in two starts to date. Neither of these look like putting Frankel in the news for this high-profile race.
Related stories: Fume Fails to Shine
A little slow to detail this post.
Thursday:
Thursday - 2:20 Cap Francais (GB) 2yo — Miss Cap Ferrat (GB) (Overnight) at Salisbury Gift Of Sight Appeal EBF Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Div I) (1m)
Ed Walker's son of Frankel ran well on debut when finishing second at odds of 9/2. Should hold serious claims.
Thursday - 2:50 Fox Premier (IRE) 2yo — Fann (USA) (Overnight) at Salisbury Gift Of Sight Appeal EBF Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Div II) (1m)
Andrew Balding bay colt has been fancied on all three starts to date and gradually getting his act together. A respectable second place at Goodwood when a beaten favourite. The step up to one mile seems to have helped.
Thursday - 3:10 Frankadore (IRE) 2yo — Adoration (USA) (Overnight) at Haydock 32Red.com EBF Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (1m)
We've mentioned Tom Dascombe's Frankadore a number of times but he's been withdrawn. It looks like this cheap purchase (for a Frankel) will be making his debut at Haydock, a track the stable do very well. It's a stiff race so he will need to be highly rated to take this at the first time of asking.
Friday:
Friday, 07 September 2018 - 2:05 Fox Vardy (USA) 2yo — Dance With Another (IRE) (Overnight) at Ascot Charbonnel Et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Sire And Dam Restricted Race) (7f)
Another Frankel offspring we've mentioned. Martyn Meade trains this bay colt who is in the ownership of King Power Racing Co Ltd. 210,000 guineas purchase at the yearling sales. This January foal holds an Epsom Derby entry. Also, holds an entry at Ascot, Saturday.
Saturday:
Saturday, 08 September 2018 - 2:10 Chartered (GB) 2yo — Time Saved (GB) (Four day) at Ascot Royal Foresters British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (1m)
This homebred daughter of Frankel is entered to make her debut at Ascot for Ralph Beckett.
Saturday, 08 September 2018 - 2:40 Fume (IRE) 2yo — Puff (IRE) (Four day) at Kempton (AW) 188Bet Mobile Bet10 Get20 Nursery Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Nursery Qualifier) (7f)
Trained by Ralph Beckett and going for a nursery with a rating of 70.
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)
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.
A few Frankel 2yos have run this season. Fume. trained by Ralph Beckett, disappointed when favourite on debut at Doncaster on 12th July. This bay colt is likely to show ability next start.
Interesting to note John Gosden has Mehdaayil, a bay daughter of Frankel, who is ready to make her debut this week.
She has a couple of entries:
Wednesday: 4:10 Yarmouth
Thursday: 6:20 Doncaster
The mare Sayyedati Symphony was trained by Clive Brittain racing seven times without success. She achieved an official rating of 94. This bay raced at pattern class on three occasion when well beaten. She won total prize money of just £4,124.
Later in the week, Gosden has Frisella entered to run on Friday 21st July 6:10 Newmarket. This daughter of Frankel ran well on debut when 6/5f at Haydock when runner-up to Cupboard Love, losing by half a length.
A few more of Frankel's offspring are getting ready to hit the track.
Interesting to see Ralph Beckett has a prized Frankel two-year-old entered to run at 2:50 Doncaster, 12th July in the 6f (2y) Napoleons Casino and Restaurant Sheffield EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 5) on good to firm going.
Fume is a bay colt out of the mare Puff. This home bred races in the familiar silks of Mr & Mrs David Aykroyd. The mare [Puff] raced eleven times when trained by Ralph Beckett. She won on debut. Winning at Group 3 but contested Group 1. She raced from six furlongs to one mile and achieved a highest official rating of 108. Perhaps her best performance was seen at two when finishing fourth in the Cheveley park Stakes (Group 1) at Newmarket beaten just over three lengths. Total earnings of just over £80,000.
Fume has Harry Bentley booked to ride. He has another entry for Friday (13th July).
Also, on Friday, Dombra, trained by Hugo Palmer, is entered to run at Newmarket over 7f. He went very close second start at Salisbury when beaten a short head after showing ability on debut.
