Let's take a look at the Frankel two-year-olds for this new week.
Friday - 8 PM
The highlight of the week is East, trained by Kevin Ryan, competing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf over one mile at Churchill Downs, USA.
Wednesday -
1:10 Nottingham -
A couple of entrants for this 1m 1/2f. Fox Vardy has been a major disappointment on his two starts to date. Most likely looking for a nursery mark, which on what we have seen so far, with be low.
Top Top wasn't fancied on debut at odds of 33/1. Ralph Beckett has been in tremendous form with his juveniles this year. Needs to improve on that first start.
Thursday -
3:40 Lingfield -
A Frankel debutante trained by John Gosden in the ownership of Hamdan Al Maktoum. Jadeerah is a daughter of Frankel out of a talented twice-winning mare who won on debut and then the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2), placed in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1). Although never winning in her next eight starts, she was placed in 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. She achieved the highest official rating of 110.
6:00 Newcastle -
Gantier is entered for his second start. This son of Frankel raced over 7f on debut when priced 25/1. A terrible slow start saw his left with a real mountain to climb. Looked in need of the run. Stepping up a furlong will help. This gelding did run on in the closing stages so worth giving a second chance but needs to show much more.
Another day with a couple of Frankel offspring racing at headquarters.
In the 2:35 Newmarket we saw Gantier, trained by John Gosden, and owned by K Abdullah. This homebred is out of a winning but limited mare. Priced 25/1, the betting suggested this gelding wasn't expected to set the grass alight. That was the case as this British-bred two-year-old was slow from the stalls and only passed three horses in the closing stages. I imagine Gosden was more interested in getting a run into this youngster although it wasn't the most inspiring start to proceedings.
Fortunes proved more favourable in the 4:55 when Ginistrelli made his second start. Ed Walker's son of Frankel is out of a twice-winning mare who raced up to Listed class. This March foal cost 475,000 guineas at the yearling sales. He ran well on debut over one mile at Salisbury when priced 9/2. Finishing fourth, beaten the same number of lengths. It was a pleasing introduction, giving the feeling better would be seen today. Racing in the ownership of Bjorn Nielson & Eastwing Racing Ltd, he started 5/2. Leading from the stalls, this resolute juvenile ran all the way to the line holding the late charge of James Park Woods by a head. Ginistrelli is a progressive type who is likely to show more at three.
Other Frankel Entrants Of Note
Exciting news -
Friday, 2nd November - Churchill Downs
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf (Grade 1) (2yo Fillies) 1m (8 PM)
Kevin Ryan sends East for one of the biggest races of the season taking on the U.S fillies. She is just one of 14 two-year-olds taking part, one of three English horses (including Charlie Appleby's La Peloas (12/1) & Brian Ellison's The Mackem Bullet (14/1).
The twice-winning East is similarly priced at 14/1. This daughter of Frankel is out of a class mare, Vital Statistics, who won at Listed class at two and competed at Grop 1. East won by half a length on debut at Hamilton at odds of 9/4. Then headed to St. Cloud, France to take a Group 3 race by two-and-a-half lengths in comfortable fashion.
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
