A winner from the Frankel family!
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) July 8, 2021
Frankella wins at the third time of asking - taking the @britishebf Maiden Fillies' Stakes for @AndrewBalding2 and @oismurphy#JulyFestival pic.twitter.com/XMZNrr32TN
They say the best things are worth waiting for and I'm sure that's the thought of connections as Frankel filly, Frankella, made it third time lucky when winning at Newmarket on the 8th July. This daughter of Frankel out of the Group 1 winning mare Arabian Queen who raced in the same ownership for John Smith.
However, Frankella hadn't looked a star turn on her two formative starts. She was fancied to go well on her debut at Salisbury when racing over six furlongs but disappointed finishing fifth of nine behind Alfaila, trained by Owen Burrows. Frankella made her return to Salisbury, just ten days later, stepping up to seven furlongs on good to soft going when contesting what looked a very hot maiden. Balding's charge led for a long way before tiring in the final furlong to finish seventh, beaten seventeen-and-a-half lengths.
To be fair, things weren't looking too promising for this well-bred filly.
Perhaps making her third start at Newmarket, contesting a Class 2 race, was a sign that she was still held in high regard by Kingsclere Stables.
In fact, this small, compact filly, was well backed before drifting late in the betting to return at odds of 20/1.
Racing on faster ground and dropping back to six furlongs saw a purposeful victory, leading for most of the way and holding the late charge of Sean Wood's Princess Shabnam, to win by half-a-length.
It was interesting that Andrew Balding could offer no explanation of the apparent improvement in form.
However, Oisin Murphy, jockey, said: ''That was a really good result and it was great for the family. Frankella has improved for dropping back to six furlongs and she is very talents.''
From a breeding perspective, this win is worth its weight in gold and there could be more to come.
