Frankel never ceases to amaze.
A legend on the racecourse and super sire extraordinaire. Juddmonte Farms must be over the moon with his continued success. Frankel Blog has followed the journey of many a talented Frankel two-year-old for this season of 2019. Personally, I thought last year's juveniles were a touch lacking. However, there was much to write about this Flat turf season which saw a host of winners including patter-class success.
Take a moment to review the list of two-year-old Frankel offspring that have captured the imagination.
Visit Juddmonte Stallion Frankel - Two-Year-Olds.
My Top 7 Frankel Two-Year-Olds of 2019:
1) Quadrilateral - Trained by Roger Charlton
Without question, Quadrilateral has proven a star turn this Flat turf season winning her first three starts for Khalid Abdullah. This chestnut daughter of Frankel out of the mare Nimble Fingers has progressed with racing. She won on debut at Newbury (7f) beating Mambo Nights by a neck.
This April foal improved markedly on her second start over course and distance, ridden, once again, by Jason Watson. Being held up off the pace, she made smooth headway to lead well over one furlong out before drawing right away to an impressive victory beating the second horse [Kalsara, trained by Andrew Balding] by nine lengths.
If that wasn't enough, Charlton had his eye on the biggest prize. Quadrilateral headed to Newmarket, stepping up to one mile, to compete in the bet365 Fillies' Mile (Group 1). She needed to be at the top of her game, chasing Hugo Palmer's Powerful Breeze who, for all the world, looked to have stolen a march on the Frankel filly who had several lengths to make up. In the closing furlong, Quadrilateral ran on with purpose to collar the leader and won by a head at a starting price of 9/4.
She is now favourite to take the 1,000 Guineas to be held at Newmarket in 2020.
2) Queen's Daenerys - Trained by Roger Varian
Beyond Quadrilateral, the following horses are simply my opinion based on racecourse achievement and promise.
Queen's Daenerys was always held in high regard by Carlburg Stables, Newmarket. Roger Varian had a decent string of juveniles and this bay daughter of Frankel out of an unraced US mare [Song To Remember] made a pleasing debut at Ascot when running on well to finish over three lengths behind Richard Hannon's Cloak Of Spirits who was in flying form for her debut.
In the ownership of H H SH Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, this February foal stepped up to one mile on her second start at Newmarket when beaten John Gosden's Wasaayef by a neck. The 5/4f was quoted as: ''stayed on gamely.''
Her third start saw her finish fifth place in the Fillies' Mile behind Quadrilateral. The 16/1 wasn't held in quite the standing of Charlton's filly but ran a sterling race when beaten just over five-and-a-half lengths.
3) Alpinista - Trained by Sir Mark Prescott
This grey daughter of Frankel out of a four-time winning mare [Alwilda] (similarly owned and trained) started her career in imperious fashion when winning ''unchallenged'' at Epsom at odds of 9/4. Although it wasn't the strongest of races, there was a lot to like about Kirsten Rausing's February foal.
Alpinista was given a lofty string of entries that saw her head to Goodwood when competing in the Ladbroke Prestige Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies). After being restless in the stalls, and slowly away, she was a touch outpaced but plugged on to finish a creditable sixth place beaten a similar number of lengths. By all accounts, connections must have been expecting a little more from the 3/1 shot.
Connections made the judgment Alpinista needed a stiffer test of stamina to show her worth and headed to France for her final two-year-old start when competing at Longchamp in the Prix d'Amumale (Group 3) (Fillies) on good to soft going. Once again, she toiled at the rear of the field and hard ridden to make ground but plugged on well to finish fourth, missing third place on the nod. Alpinista lost by one length and looks a stayer in the making.
4) Melnikova - Sir Michael Stoute
Freemason Lodge Stables had at least 10 Frankel two-year-olds this 2019 season. I must admit, I was raving about Melnikova. This daughter of Frankel races in the familiar silks of Cheveley Park Stud, the mare, Safina, who was similarly owned and trained. This chestnut filly was priced 8/1 when making her debut at Kempton over seven-furlong, taking her time to get going, but flying at the line to win by a neck. Interestingly, Sir Michael Stoute fielded another Frankel debutant that day in Tanita who finished third, losing by a length, and looking sure to win after taking the lead in the final furlong.
Melnikova was made 5/4 on her next start. In a tough-looking seven-runner field at Newbury, she was put in her place by Quadrilateral (Frankel) who powered home to win by nine lengths. Melnikova led for most but had to settle for third place when losing second to Andrew Balding's Kalsara. It will be interesting to see whether Stoute's chestnut filly will be targetted at the 1,000 Guineas. It's possible she wasn't at her best at Newbury, although beaten by a filly who has proven her class.
5) Juan Elcano - Kevin Ryan
Racing in the familiar silks of Sheik Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, this chestnut son of Frankel was always highly regarded by Ryan and seen flying up the gallops at Hambleton Lodge, Hambleton, Thirsk. The mare [Whatami] wasn't the fastest of horses on her three career starts. However, this April foal was sent off 6/4 favourite when making his debut at Haydock over seven furlongs. He stayed on well to beaten Mark Johnston's Subjectivist by a neck, beating the third by eight lengths.
Just over one month later, Juan Alcano competed in the bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket. He ran well, chasing the eventual winner, Mystery Power, losing by one length.
His concluding start of the Flat turf season saw him race at Doncaster in the Pommery Champagne Stakes (Group 2). A small field of just five runners saw Juan Elcano finish a respectable third place who was beaten a length at odds of 4/1.
6) Highest Ground - Sir Michael Stoute
This bay colt is a son of Frankel out of a winning French-raced mare. Highest Ground was fancied to go well on his debut at Leicester when running on well over 7f to win at odds of 3/1. Racing in the familiar silks of the Niarchos Family time will tell how this son of Frankel figures in the pecking order but a promising start.
7) Franconia - John Gosden
Racing in the Frankel silks, Franconia, a bay daughter of Frankel out of a twice-winning mare [Winter Sunrise] was fancied to win on debut at Chelmsford. The 9/4 joint-favourite ran on well but was denied by neck to finish a creditable second place. Better will be seen on her next start. Could make into a decent three-year-old.
Now there's a question.
Frankel Blog isn't scared to make a prediction. So far this season we have seen a number of very talented Frankel offspring. Many quality juveniles have led the way and maintain the highest standards of what can only be described as a stallion who has always broken records.
This season we have detailed those up-and-coming two-year-olds from stables big and small.
One trainer who has a wealth of Frankels is Sir Michael Stoute. In fact, the post detailing 10 Frankel 2yos for him this 2019 has been one of our most popular. It's had almost 500 pageview, which for a little blog like ours is good going.
If you search the internet and keywords regarding Frankel you will notice we are top-ranked for many.
Anyway, enough about all that stuff. We had best get back to our prediction about the best of Frankel's two-year-old filly to be seen this 2019 Flat turf season.
It will come as no surprise to see that our prediction is trained by Sir Michael Stoute in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud. This beautifully-bred chestnut Frankel filly (a homebred) is out of a winning mare similarly owned and trained called Safina.
The filly in question is called Melnikova.
Readers may have noticed this flying filly made a winning debut at Kempton back in early August (5th August).
It is memorable, not only for the win but the fact that Sir Michael Stoute had two Frankel fillies contesting the same race on debut with Tanita (the shorter in the betting of the two horses priced 9/2) looking like the winner until Melnikova pounced late as she gathered her stride, leading in the final few yards to win from Stylistique (trained by Roger Varian) by a neck from Tanita a further head behind.
Melnikova was backed from 10/1 returning 8/1, to take the win prize money of £5,822.10 (Plus 10 Race). James Doyle rode a great race with the filly taking the 7f the Matchbook/British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes without realising she had a race.
Make no mistake, this is one of the best, if not the best, two-year-old at Freemason Lodge Stables.
She has been entered for four high-class races including the bet365 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket to take place on 11th October 3:35 (Newmarket, Rowley Mile). This contest has a winning prize of £283,550.
Melnikova may be seen running her second race on the 6th of September. This Class 3 7f Novice Stakes takes place at Kempton. At the time of writing, 31 fillies have been declared.
You can take a look at the declaration here to see if she makes the final line up.
In addition to the Fillies Mile (Group 1), she has received entries for:
Saturday, 7th September 3:00 Haydock - Ascendant Stakes (Listed Race) 1-mile.
Friday, 27th September at Newmarket 3:00 Shadwell Rockfell Stakes (Group 2) 7f.
Exciting times. I'm predicting this horse will be heading for the 1,000 Guineas.
Good luck to connections.
It's always interesting to see which trainers are lucky enough to have this year's crop of Frankel two-year-olds in their care.
As we stated in an earlier post: 5 Frankel 2yos to Follow in 2019 there will always be a surprise or two. It is with great delight we mentioned Ilka Gansera-Leveque has a Frankel two-year-old housed at St Wendred's Stable, Newmarket. Amtiyaz is a bay colt out of an unraced mare who used to be in training with William Haggas, in the same ownership with Mr Saleh Al Homaizi & Mr Imad Al Sagar. He was sold at the yearling sales for 200,000gns. I'm so willing for this March foal to have ability and put Gansera-Leveque on the map. Such a lovely lady, hard-working, and a qualified vet among her many talents.
Great to see trainers big and small having a chance to shine.
Having a quick look at Frankel's categorised by trainer I was surprised to see Sir Michael Stoute has a bumper crop of potential stars.
In fact, he has 10 Frankel 2yos at Freemason Lodge Stables.
Here is a quick rundown:
Dollar Bid - A March foal, bay colt, out of the mare Cape Dollar in the ownership of Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd.
Highest Ground - A May foal, bay colt, out of a mare named Celestial Lagoon in the ownership of The Niarchos family.
Heaven Forfend - A March foal, bay colt, by the dam Heaven Sent in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud Ltd.
Boss Power - An April foal, bay colt, out of the dam La Vinchina, in the ownership of Stifung Gestut Fahrhof.
My Frankel - A March foal, bay colt, by My Special J's in the ownership of Newsells Park Stud Ltd.
Prince Imperial - A March foal, bay colt, out of the mare Proportional, in the ownership of Juddmonte Farms Inc.
Melnikova - A March foal, chestnut filly, out of the dam Safina, in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud Ltd.
Unnamed - A March foal, bay colt, out of the dam Shama's Crown in the ownership of Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd.
Tanita - A March foal, bay filly, out of the mare Shoal in the ownership of Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd.
Dream With Me - A January foal, bay colt, out of the mare Where in the ownership of Coolmore.
Exciting times.
Related stories: 5 Frankel 2yos for William Haggas in 2019
Related stories: 3 Frankel 2yos Ready To Debut For Sir Michael Stoute
Looking ahead to next Monday (5th August).
It's always an exciting time to see Sir Michael Stoute unleash a two-year-old debutante and all the more so when it is a Frankel (2yo) filly racing in the silks of Cheveley Park Stud.
Melnikova is a chestnut filly out of a winning mare [Safina] who was similarly owned and trained. The mare raced just four times back in 2009/10, a beaten favourite on debut at Newmarket when running creditably in third. She won on her third start aged three when ''in command at the finish'' at Chester over 7f. She was retired after her next start in a Listed Handicap at Ascot when finishing third.
She achieved the highest official rating of 96 and just under £17,000 in total earnings.
Melnikova is a homebred and March foal.
Related post: 10 Sir Michael Stoute Frankel 2yos for 2019
Stoute has already fared well with another Frankel 2yo this season in the shape of Heaven Forend who went close to winning on debut and then ran exceptionally well when finishing 6th in the Chesham Stakes Listed Race behind Pinatubo.
Melnikova has an entry for Monday's 3:45 Kempton - Matchbook/British Stallions Stud EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Plus 10) 7f.
To add to the mix, Sir Michael Stoute has another Frankel (2yo) filly entered to run in the same race.
Tanita is a bay filly racing in the Frankel silks of K. Abdullah. This March foal is homebred from Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd. She is out of a winning mare [Shoal], who raced just three times, similarly owned and trained. She secured a win second start when prevailing by a head at Nottingham over 1m 2f.
Later in the week, Sir Michael Stoute has another Frankel 2yo entered to race at Great Yarmouth (7th August). My Frankel is a bay colt in the ownership of Saeed Suhail. This March foal is out of a winning mare [My Special J'S] who won on her third start at the Curragh when contesting a Group 2 race. She raced ten times achieving the highest official rating of 105. In addition, total prize earnings of £69,875. She concluded her three-year-old career when racing at Meydan and finished down the field on her final outing at Keeneland, USA.
My Frankel cost 380,000 guineas at the yearling sales.
