Frankel Offspring 2024: Age Of Gold Impressive at Great Yarmouth

A lovely day at Great Yarmouth racecourse is always what the doctor ordered. And it's always the more thrilling to see a potential star racehorse in the shape of Age Of Gold. This son of Frankel out of Promised Money made a sparkling debut at the seaside racecourse. Charlie Appleby must have been very pleased with this 'impressive' victory especially after a tardy start but truly outstanding finish. 

The 11/10f, ridden by William Buick, was something of a talking horse on course due to his 625,000 Euro yearling price tag. However, the nature of his success could see this well-made colt heading to Royal Ascot to compete in the Coventry Stakes (Group 2). He ran out a tidy winner from James Fanshaw's Back In Black who was some one-and-quarter lengths behind. The race may not have been the best but there was a lot to like about this performance. Watching the horses walk around the paddock, he showed signed of inexperience calling to other horse but behaved well and cruised to the start in a clam and professional manner. The Godolphin two-year-olds have been flying this last week or two and no doubt Royal Ascot is the word. 

The only worry for backers was seeing the colt get a tardy star which saw his in-running odds drift to 3/1. However, within a furlong or two he was short odds on when cruising to the lead and had the race won in stylish fashion. 

It was an impressive performance.

It was a good day had by all with myself, brother, Tony and professional gambler, Jerry Banks enjoying the racing. I had a look at freebetsuk.uk for the best odds rather than use the independent bookmakers on course. It turned out to be a day of near misses with Jerry's first-race selection Beggerman losing out in a photo finish (luckily he had bet each-way) while he had a couple of seconds including course specialist Priscilla's Wish, trained by Philip McBride. 

Tony had a bet on the second in the other two-year-old race won well by Roger Varian's Spherical in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud. 

Age Of Gold was the highlight on the day and I was pleased to get a couple of photographs. The first in the paddock and the second in the bar under the grandstand watching the replay on TV. I couldn't help but smile to see something beat Age Of Gold. Take a look at the photograph to see for yourself.  

Photos: JC 2024

Frankel Offspring 2023: State Of Desire Debut at Great Yarmouth

It's always good to get back to Great Yarmouth. 

A stone's throw from Newmarket means there will be plenty of thoroughbred talent on offer and that was no exception when we ventured to the course on the 24th May.  

Travelling via train from my hometown of March, changing at Ely and Norwich, it took a couple of hours to get to this coastal town which resides in Norfolk. I do enjoy a day at Yarmouth whether for all the tourist attractions or a day at the races. 

Well, there was a merry pilgrimage of me, two brothers, and pro gambler Jerry Banks and his friend, Mark. To be fair it was more of a day out than betting but there is always a few bets placed from one and all. Tony, my brother, had a no-lose bet to win a grand on Phoenix Duchess (3:40), while Jerry had a nice winner in the first race. 

Anyway, I will get back to that in a moment. 

We started our day walking from the train station to the Feathers Pub which is always good with cheap beers and an upbeat atmosphere. From there we headed to the course by taxi. The price of ticket for the Members enclosure is £28. It really is bordering on criminal. We got the Racing Day deal by purchasing our tickets in advance, which entitled a free alcoholic drink and pie. That is a fair deal, at least takes the edge off it. I think they have about 50 of those going if you buy your ticket a couple of weeks in advance. I think Jerry said later fixtures had already sold out!

The weather was fair and the main attraction for us were the two juvenile races (2yos for the uniformed) and especially interesting with a Class 2 & 3 event on the cards. I'm not sure if this was an extra fixture, but I can't remember a Class two contest for two-year-olds ever being held here before. There were some nice prospects who headed to the coast for more than an ice cream and battered cod. 

One of the main attractions for me was the Frankel-sired State Of Desire, trained by Charlie Appleby, ridden by William Buick. This well-bred bay colt, who cost 400,000G, was pretty strong in the betting, starting at 5/6f. Racing over 6f on good to firm going, I did have slight concerns the trip would be on the sharp side and that turned out to be true with a respectable third place behind Watch My Tracer (George Scott) and El Bodon (Jane Chapple-Hyam). The winner was backed from big odds and has some potential and the second went well and I imagine connections were surprised they didn't win. State Of Desire ran well on debut but looks to need 7f to be seen at best. 

The Class 2 race (3:40) saw a field of 12 two-year-olds and it was a spectacle to see Jane Chapple-Hyam's Born To Rock, ridden by Robert Tart, in the ownership of Laurence Holder, cruise home 'easily' (looked impressive) by four-and-a-quarter lengths, from the Gosden-trained Jiwin (Gosden asked Havlin if it needed 6f). 

The winning filly, a daughter of Soldier's Call out of a poor mare was a 17,000 (Euro) yearling purchase, bought by Holder's bloodstock agent, Amanda Skiffington, as a 2yo breeze-up for 110,000g. A truly inspired purchase as this filly is a beautiful specimen (as seen in this photo) and heads to Royal Ascot for the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2). I wouldn't be surprised to see her win. 

Bookies offered 10/1. Holder must have been overjoyed as it was a sparkling performance and basically won in a canter, which is no mean feat in a Class 2 with win prize money of £15,462. 

Lots to enjoy on the day and we stayed the night at the Charlton Hotel, popping into the Grosvenor Casino for a drink and play on the roulette (I lost, brother won). After a walk along the front, went back to our rooms about midnight. 

A long but enjoyable day. 

The next morning we had breakfast at the Ocean Hotel, on the front, and had eggs royale before getting on the train and back home. 

Photos: Top, State Of Desire, Bottom, Born To Rock. 

Copyright 2023 Jason Coote (All rights reserved) 

Frankel Watch: Frankly Darling Debutes for John Gosden at Yarmouth

Frankel offspring continue to impress. 

Great Yarmouth may have been a touch cold, and heavy underfoot but it didn't spoil a lovely day's racing at the Norfolk course. It was the racecourse's final meeting of the 2019 Turf season and it was a sad goodbye to the side-side track until next season. 

Myself, cousin, Danny, and brothers Tony and Gareth traveled by train from March to Great Yarmouth deciding to have a night at Grosvenor Casino, which is always a great spot for a cheap meal in a beautiful setting of the listed building Shadingfield Lodge. It was a good evening. Danny won £100, while I had a small win. My brothers, after winning a decent amount, broke even. 

We had a slight scare on the way back to the Nelson Hotel, no more than a hundred metres from the casino, arriving back about 1 am, to find the front door locked. After 10-minutes of ringing the doorbell, someone let us in. The hotel is great value and I do like the place, breakfast was decent and we departed about 11 am, walked along the front to the Pub On The Prom, where Danny met us about 10-minutes later. 

After a quick pint (I had a larger shandy), we got one of Albie's Taxi cabs, which, thankfully sat outside. 

We got dropped off at the Avenue Public House, which is about half a mile from the racecourse. That is a popular pitstop for racegoers before heading to the course. 

As it happened, we had a cheap day at the races. Funnily, Tony and Gareth got VIP tickets because my beautiful Marlene, who is back in America, won two tickets for finishing in the Top 10 Best Dressed Ladies Competition. I had my annual membership, while Danny, who is a member of Huntingdon, got a free race day at the Norfolk venue. I had one complimentary ticket left so rather than let that go to waste, I accosted the first single man walking down Jellieco Road, to ask if he wanted to get into the course for free. The man in his 60s seemed a touch surprised if not edging on the side of caution. I think he imagined I was trying to sell him something or part of an elaborate scam. I said: ''Follow me, and we will get in for free!''.

He did, and we got in the course. The gentleman was thankful. I was just pleased to not let a ticket go to waste and to show that something good can happen on any given day. As the classic quote in the wonderful children's book penned by Roald Dahl goes: ''So shines a good deed in a weary world.'' (I wouldn't have parted with an ever-lasting gobstopper).

Anyway, let's get back to the Frankel filly trained by John Gosden. 

The third race on the card: 2:50 Great Yarmouth. The British Stallions Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race). 

Frankly Darling is a daughter of Frankel out of the mare Hidden Hope who won a Listed race at Chester. She was a very capable filly when trained by Geoff Wragg in a 9-race career. Her last five races all at Group 2/3, with a final trio of starts, saw placed efforts and concluding contest a head loss at Haydock. An official rating of 109 and total prize earnings of £80,138. 

Frankly Darling looked well in her coast and walked around the paddock in a professional manner. Watching her gallop to the start, in the familiar silks of A E Oppenheimer, she looked a picture and a good-looking filly. 

The 7/2 shot ran a sterling race on debut. She traveled well, touching odds-on in running, before being beaten by another debutant, Caballeta, in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud Ltd. 

Frankly Darling was beaten by one length, with Hugo Palmer's Combine in third. 

Gosden's charge is a sure-fire winner and potentially smart horse. 

Good luck to connections.

2 Frankel 2yos for Michael Bell in 2019 Season

Michael Bell is always a two-year-old trainer worth noting. 

This season the juveniles have been Maxi Boy, Applecross & Zmiles. It will be interesting to see how a couple of those go at Royal Ascot 2019. 

I'm not sure if Michael Bell has previously trained any Frankel-sired two-year-olds but it is with great joy we reveal Fitzroy House has at least two Frankel offspring this season. 

Festive Love is a chestnut filly sired by Frankel out of the dam Eva's Request in the ownership of Lady Bamford, who also has Herman Hesse who is trained this season with John Gosden. This colt made his debut at Great Yarmouth when priced 3/1 when finishing sixth. A very attractive horse who will be winning this season. 

Festive Love is worth watching this season. 

Interesting that the other Bell-Frankel two-year-old is in the ownership of The Queen. This bay colt is named Formality out of the dam Silver Mirage, who won on her final start in the same ownership. 

You can take a look at other Frankel offspring in training this 2019 season.      

Richard Hannon's Frankel Filly Shammah to Make it Second Time Lucky

Our recent post noted John Gosden's Frankel colt Hernam Hesse, who made his debut at Great Yarmouth. By all accounts, it looked a strong race with Charlie Appleby's Boccaccio returning a comfortable winner while all those which hit the frame are worthy of interest in preceding weeks. 

Herman Hesse was well backed but needed the run and will be much better next time out. A lovely-looking colt who should be tasting victory sooner than later. 

Back to proceedings. Shammah is a daughter of Frankel, who made her debut at Salisbury when starting at odds of 6/1. This compact bay filly is out of a winning French mare. 

Shammah ran well on her first start behind Andrew Balding's Symbolize who could well be heading to Royal Ascot. When winning the Simon & Nerys Dutfield Memorial Stakes (Plus 10 Race). 

Readers may remember that Nerys Dutfield held a trainer's licence. The couple owned Axminster Carpets. Mr Dutfield died in April 2016, while his wife sadly passed away on July 20th (2016), after battling cancer. The couple is survived by their eight children. 

Shammah holds three entries from the 3rd - 5th June at Lingfield (6f), Nottingham (5f) & Kempton (6f) respectively. 

Related post: Frankel Watch 2019: Shammah Shines at Windsor for Richard Hannon

Frankel Watch (2yo): Herman Hesse to Write Poetic Prose for Gosden at Yarmouth

Interesting to note that John Gosden has a Frankel two-year-old (2yo) entered to run at Great Yarmouth on Thursday 30th May 2019. 

This February foal, a bay colt, is a homebred son of Frankel in the ownership of Lady Bamford. For those who have heard of Lady Bamford - a high-profile owner of racehorses - with many and varied trainers, she is a British business person who founded the Daylesford Organic Farmshops chain and Bamford brand of women's products. Her spouse is Lord Anthony Bamford who is the chairman of JCB. He is estimated to be worth £3.1 billion. 

Herman Hesse is out of a five-times winning mare who won a Group 2 race at Deauville, France. The mare started her career over 71/2f but raced predominantly over 8 - 10 furlongs in an 18-race career, which saw her finish runner-up on her final start at Saratoga, USA, when beaten by a head at Grade 1 at the age of five. She achieved total prize money of £511,865. 

Herman Hesse was a German-born poet, novelist and painter. Born in 1877, in 1946 he received the Nobel Prize for Literature. His work related to the search for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality. 

Herman Hess has been entered to run at Great Yarmouth (2:50) in the 7f (7f3y) British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (Class 5) (2yo). 

Lady Bamford has many horses in trainer with handlers including John Gosden, Sir Mark Prescott, Charles Hills, Michael Bell & Richard Hannon. 

One of her best horses was Wings Of Desire, trained by John Gosden, who raced at the highest standard when competing just eight times at two and three. He finished fourth in the Epsom Derby (2016). 

Probably her greatest success was breeding and ownership of Sariska, trained by Michael Bell winner of the English and Irish Oaks in an 11 race career, achieving five wins and total prize winnings of $1,113,771.  

John Gosden has at least four Frankel two-year-olds at Carehaven Stables, Newmarket. One of those is named Majestic Noor, an April foal, and a bay filly out of the mare Nouriya, in the ownership of Mr Saleh Al Homaizi & Mr Imad Al Sagar. Who, intriguingly, own another Frankel prospect named Amtiyaz, who is in training with Ilka Gansera-Leveque. 

Very intriguing.