Frankel

Racing's Unique Claim to Sporting Immortality

Only in racing are the best sent off to stud to produce new - or preferably better - versions of themselves. Roger Federer, say, will have fielded countless offers for his retirement years - but not that one. To watch magisterial Thoroughbreds race is privilege enough. But we then get to see fresh manifestations of them arrive as foals. Champions retire but their progeny take over and keep the family story going.  For many of us the end of Frankel's racing career was hard to bear. Yours truly felt a...

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Frankel On Top Again as Book 1 Figures Take a Dip

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin NEWMARKET, UK--A Frankel (GB) filly out of the brilliant G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) provided a sprinkling of stardust on the final day of the Tattersalls Book 1 October Yearling Sale when selling to Shadwell for 1.6 million gns. Sheikha Hissa has been a notable presence on the sales ground all week and, according to Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold, it was her determination that helped see off the attention of underbidder Kieran Lalor for the first foal out of...

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Westover Retired With Injury Sustained in the Arc

Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud, has been retired after sustaining a "career-ending injury" when finishing runner-up in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Announcing his retirement on Thursday, the colt's owner-breeder Juddmonte stated that stud plans for the 4-year-old would be announced at a later date. Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said, "It's devastating news, unfortunately he suffered a career-ending injury on Sunday and he'll have to be retired. Long-term he'll be fine and he'll be okay...

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Coolmore Snaps Up Frankel Colt for 2 Million Gns

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin NEWMARKET, UK--From a muted opening, Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale picked up the pace on Wednesday with a further four seven-figure lots gracing the ring. These sparked some solid bidding wars between established superpowers such as Coolmore, Godolphin and Juddmonte, with a decent representation of newer players from Bahrain and other Gulf nations, and strong participation from American-based Mike Ryan and Chad Brown. The ripples of Frankel (GB) combined with Hascombe & Valiant Stud were felt on the turf of Longchamp...

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Late Late Show At Goffs Orby As Frankel Filly Shines At €1.85m To MV Magnier

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St George Looking For Summer Sizzle to Continue at Keeneland September

One month ago, Archie St George hit one out of the park, striking with a colt by Into Mischief who snagged $1-million from Elliott Walden, bidding on behalf of the partnership of China Horse Club, Siena Farm and Maverick Racing at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Select Sale. In fact, the operation sold all five of the yearlings it brought upstate, averaging $529,000 while realizing $2,645,000 in gross revenue. Hoping to carry on that momentum into Lexington next week, St George offers seven yearlings in Book 1 of Keeneland's September Sale. "I go...

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Friday's Observations: Dubawi Relative of Highland Reel Debuts at Newmarket

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features Kingdom Of Time, an 800,000 Tattersalls Book 1 purchase.   18.20 Newmarket, Mdn, £8,000, 2yo, 8fT KINGDOM OF TIME (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who cost Godolphin 800,000gns at the Tatts Book 1 Sale, is out of a full-sister to the seven-times group 1 and grade I-winning international...

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Outstanding Book 1 Tattersalls October Sale Catalogue Released

An array of outstanding yearlings have been cataloged for Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The sale takes place from October 3 to October 5 and features yearlings by some of the world's best stallions, including Dubawi (Ire), Frankel (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire), Kingman (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire), Siyouni (Fr) and Wootton Bassett (GB).  The sale numbers 532 lots, all of which are eligible for the lucrative Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus scheme, which is set to increase in value from £20,000 to £25,000 in 2024...

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The Leading Sires-Of-Sires In Britain And Ireland? The Stats Will Surprise You

Which stallion does the data say is the outstanding sire-of-sires in Britain and Ireland? The answer will surprise you. We often hear chat about a stallion's ability as a sire-of-sires being bandied about, but it is less common to see it examined in a more detailed and data-driven manner. First and foremost, my personal opinion is that using a stallion's record as a sire-of-sires is one of the most brutally harsh measures in all of bloodstock on which to judge a horse. In short, the reality is that the vast...

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Seven Days: The Sophomore Kings

We've a while to wait before any firm conclusions can be drawn about this year's crop of first-season stallions, though Darley's Blue Point (Ire) and Ballyhane Stud's Soldier's Call (GB) are pulling ever clearer in what has developed into something of a duel at the half-way stage of the Flat season. In the Coolmore camp, Calyx (GB) was the first to strike with a group winner when Persian Dreamer won Friday's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S.  As an aside, one wonders how much the clamour to run two-year-olds at Royal...

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'My Aim Is To Fill That Wall!' – Ylang Ylang's Breeder Hails Picture-Perfect Filly

Craig Bennett of Merry Fox Stud, joint-breeder of arguably the most exciting juvenile filly in training Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), recalls how a visit to Coolmore Stud a number of years back made a lasting impression.  Not for the sheer expanse of the operation, or the might of the stallions the world-renowned County Tipperary stud could offer potential breeders, but for how Coolmore marks its successes. "When I went to Coolmore a couple of years ago, I can remember looking out at one of the paddocks where the stallions...

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Gosden Hoping Nashwa Can Show True Colours As Season Progresses

Beaten but unbowed. That is the mood in the Gosden camp after dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) suffered a surprise defeat on the all-weather at Newcastle on Friday. The four-year-old is reported to have come out of the race in good shape, however, and Gosden is hoping the real Nashwa can show up as the season progresses.  "I wasn't too unhappy with her. She will be fine. She is taking her time to come to herself. A lot of fillies can take time," John Gosden said. He...

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