Frankel Watch: Top Top Top

I'm sure we've used this blog post title before. 

Top Top is running tomorrow at Lingfield (3:00). This son of Frankel is trained by Ralph Beckett in the ownership of King Power Racing Co Ltd. The mare, Jira, won twice in her career, achieving Listed-class success. Top Top wasn't fancied in the betting when a 33/1 shot. He ran over one mile at Newmarket, almost ten lengths behind Turgenev who is top class. This 260,000 guineas yearling purchase needs to have improved for that first outing. That is likely. Interesting to see how he goes after well over a month on the sidelines. 

Frankel Watch: 4 Frankels Running This Week

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)

Andrew Balding: ''The Nicest Bunch of Horses I've Ever Had

We've been waiting for the first 2YO Frankel runner of this 2018 Flat season. 

2:00 Newbury - 18th May (Friday) Welcome To The Starlight Raceday Maiden Stakes (Plus 10) (Class 4) (2yo) 

Fox Premier - trained by Andrew Balding. Only time will tell if this is the case. He is one of 47 entrant at this early declaration stage.

This bay colt is out of a dam called Fann, who ran 19 times and trained by Clive Brittain. She had one win - a progressive horse. She achieved her highest official rating (104) in her last few races before being retired as a brood mare. 

Fox Premier cost 700,000G at the yearling sales and runs in the ownership of King Power Racing Co Ltd. They have horses such as Beat The Bank. 

Vichai Srivaddhanapradha owns King Power Racing Co Ltd. Football fans will know he is the Thai billionaire owner of Leicester City FC. He is investing substantial money into horse racing. In fact, in 2018 he has spent £16 million. His horses run in the blue and white Leicester City colours. 

Purchases include a £2.5 million Frankel filly named King Power and a daughter by Dubawi which cost £1.3 million called Tuk Power. The magnate who made his fortune from his King Power duty free shop empire has 60 horses in training with three handlers: Andrew Balding, Ralph Beckett and Richard Hannon. While David Elsworth, Martyn Meade and David Simcock are on the trainer roster.    

Andrew Balding is the lucky recipient of 30 horses at Kingsclere Stables in Hampshire. 

He said: ''It is a major boost to the yard. He has bought some lovely horses. The ones I've got are more for next year but he has some nice ones with Richard and Ralph.''

He continued: ''Money doesn't guarantee results but the signs are good. They are the nicest bunch of horses I've ever had. We'll all being doing our hardest to get him some results.''   

No doubt Balding has been waiting for this 6f race because this March foal is bred to want 6f - 7f as a starting point. This trainer can win with debutantes. being such an expensive purchase, he is likely to be fancied in the betting. 

Other horses in the ownership of King Power Racing Co Ltd.

Fox Vardy - trained by Martyn Meade (£220,500)
Fox Kasper - trained by Richard Hannon (£220,500)
Come On Leicester - trained by Richard Hannon (£378,000)

Good to see the first of a new crop of Frankel two-year-olds.   

Read more: Exclusive: Andrew Balding thrives in Kingsclere heritage and promise of Frankel and Leicester City connection