Frankel still delivers
Dave Youngman reflects on a successful season for the hottest sire in town
WITH this Flat season now fast ebbing away it is time to quietly reflect on it all. For me, it has been a sheer delight seeing the young offspring of the great Frankel come on to the racecourse and win so many races. One particular performance was that of EMINENT trained here at HQ by Martyn Meade making a winning debut on the Rowley Mile having been backed from 14-1 down to 6-1.
It was especially nice as I had extolled the virtues of him in previous articles long before his winning appearance. He will be roughed off now and put away to fully furnish and fill his frame but make no mistake he can step up and make up into a very nice colt for the Sefton Lodge yard next season.
THE recent sales at Tattersalls here in Newmarket saw yearlings by Dubawi, Galileo and Frankel make top money and attract much interest from buyers from around the world.
A Dubawi colt knocked down to John Ferguson for 2.6m gns was top lot and a Frankel colt fetching 1.6m gns was purchased by Sheikh Hamdan, this was out of Attraction and looked a really nice type with good bone and well backed plus a smashing walker.
FRANKEL looks sure to receive a full complement of mares to cover next season and looks certain to produce something very special as time goes by.
He is in exceptional condition and I hope you like the photo of me with him at Newmarket, I feel very lucky to be able to get so close to the great horse and hope I will be able to do so for a long time to come.
Shane Fetherstonhaugh, who rode him so much when he was in training with Sir Henry Cecil, paid Frankel a visit recently and was delighted to see him. Shane is now with trainer Charlie Appleby at Moulton Paddocks and a very important member of the team there.
THE as-yet unraced son of Frankel in the care of Roger Varian named UAE KING continues to impress in his work and looks a top prospect for the Kremlin House handler.
It’s the same story for the unraced DUBAWI PRINCE, both are owned by Sheikh Obaid, who the trainer purchased some very nice yearlings for at the recent sales.
GODOLPHIN have some very useful unraced talent waiting in the wings including two lovely Frankel fillies. SUPER TALENT is an unraced colt by Dubawi that is impressing in his work and he may make his debut on the allweather before too long.
FINALLY, many congratulations to Dennis Ridgway and his wife Patricia from Yorkshire on their recent 61st wedding anniversary.
Dennis is a regular reader of this magazine and most loyal supporter of my Racing Club, the support of people like them is what makes it all worthwhile.