The start of the Flat turf season 2019 gets underway with the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster's Lincoln Meeting on the 30th March.
The sight of those 25 Brocklesby Stakes entered horses at the first declaration stage published on the Racing Post gets my blood flowing for another venture into the unknown that's two-year-old horse racing. It's the starting point to some potentially smart horses. Trainers have been busy preparing their early two-year-olds with a new buzz of what could be...
I wonder when we will see the first of this year's crop of Frankel-sired two-year-olds. I don't think we saw too many early types last year. Even though Frankel offspring hold an impressive percentage for racing at pattern class, I wasn't struck on the general standard of those we saw in Britain. As noted before, Kevin Ryan's East was about as good as it got with her winning at group class and then finishing a distant (but respectable) second to the U.S-trained Newspaperofrecord when competing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Mile Turf (Grade 1) (2yo) (Fillies) (Turf) at Churchill Downs (USA).
So what will this year's Frankel prospects achieve?
Only time will tell. However, we will detail five Frankel 2yos which may be of interest to readers for different reasons. I'm sure all will be gaining column inches in the press by the time the season runs its course.
- Majestic Noor - This daughter of Frankel out of a mare named Nouriya. She cost 650,000 guineas at the yearling sales. I nearly fell off my seat when I saw this bay filly in the ownership of Mr Saleh Al Homaizi & Mr Imad Al Sagar is going to be trained by Newmarket's smallest yard Ilka Gansera Leveque. I'm so excited for St Wendred's Stable because this hard-working trainer/qualified vet knows her way to the winner's enclosure if given the ammunition. What a dream start to the season if this April foal can live up to expectation. Originally detailed as being trained by Ilka Gansera- Leveque but now in training with John Gosden. (Not sure if this was a mistake on my part but definitely with John Gosden).
- Amtiyaz - I must be dreaming. So must Ilka Gansera-Leveque because scanning down the new crop of Frankel two-year-olds I see that she has a second Frankel in the stable. This is incredible. Once again in the ownership of Mr Saleh Al Homaizi & Mr Imad Al Sagar. This March foal, a colt, is out of a mare named Rose Of Miracles trained by William Haggas although unraced. He went through the yearling sales ring in 2018 for 200,000 guineas. Can't wait to see these two on the track.
- Zabeel King - At least we have a name for this two-year-old Frankel colt who is in training with Kevin Ryan. Not only that, we have some interesting breeding in that this February foal is a full-brother to East (mentioned, above) out of the talented mare Vital Statistics and went through the sales ring for 400,000 Euros. It will be interesting to see who owned this two-year-old.
- My Frankel - How many race fans would love to say those words? This bay colt is in training with Sir Michael Stoute, out of a mare called My Special J's. This March foal (16th) was bred by Newsells Park Stud went through the yearling sales for 380,000 guineas and sold to C Gordon-Watson Bloodstock. He is now in the ownership of Saeed Suhail. The mare won the Keeneland Stakes (Group 2) in Ireland (one win from ten starts) and raced at the highest grade concluding her race career at Keeneland (USA), previous to four starts at Meydan (UAE).
- Sefton Warrior - Once more, the owners Mr Saleh Al Homaizi & Mr Imad Al Sagar take a keen interest in Frankel as a sire with this bay colt who will be in training with Richard Spencer. This March foal is out of the dam Maid To Master who raced just four times in Ireland without a win. If I am reading the sales page correctly, he was purchased by the trainer and Bobby O'Ryan for just 75,000 guineas and under the new ownership of Rebel Racing Premier II.
Watch East a Gallant (but distant) Runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Mile
