2nd-HAY, £5,000, Cond, 6-8, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:13.11, g/f.
+FAIR EVA (GB) (f, 2, Frankel (GB)">Frankel {GB}–African Rose {GB} {Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 5-7f, G1SW-Eng, SW & G1SP-Fr, $401,755}, by Observatory), sent off the even-money favourite to provide her incomparable sire with a third winner out of his first four starters, was green initially after a tardy break and allowed time to creep to the back of the leading group by Ryan Moore. Taken to the far side to gain the advantage without being asked a serious question approaching the final two furlongs, the flashy chestnut stamped her authority on affairs with the minimum of fuss and had four lengths to spare over Nations Alexander (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) at the line. In doing so, the daughter of the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose becomes the first Frankel to win in the Juddmonte silks. “That was a massive relief, as there was a lot of pressure and we wouldn't be renowned for first-time winners,” commented Harry Charlton, son of trainer Roger Charlton who handled Frankel's dam Kind (Ire) (Danehill). “A lot of that was on natural ability, rather than being drilled at home. She was the one of our two-year-olds who from early on was floating around our trotting ring at home–she has a beautiful action and long stride and is a good size and strong. This ground is getting close to being on the lively side, which is perfect for her. On paper, this wasn't a weak race and we thought she might get run off her feet a bit, but she was in front longer than we would have wanted. Ryan [Moore] isn't one to shout about it, but when he said to take slow and steady steps it means he likes her. He thinks she'll be a miler in time, so we'll let her ease up to her distance. I suspect Frankel is the real deal.” Fair Eva already looks the best of the four foals out of her high-class sprinting dam, who is also a full-sister to Helleborine (GB), who beat the subsequent MG1SW Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) by five lengths in the G3 Prix d'Aumale at two before running second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. She was a winner at the first time of asking, as was her own dam's sire half-brother Distant Music who captured the G2 Champagne S. and G1 Dewhurst S. during an unbeaten juvenile campaign also in these colours. African Rose also has a yearling full-brother to this winner and a colt foal by Kingman (GB) to come. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,704. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Khalid Abdullah (GB); B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd; T-Roger Charlton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
