The racing world woke up to the news of Frankel’s first born on Thursday morning, after Chrysanthemum gave birth to a colt described as "a handsome colt with a good head, a white blaze and great presence". This is just the beginning in a long line of top class mares he has successfully covered – but can he really reach the heights of Galileo on the world scene?
Frankel pictured in his stable at a recent GG.COM visit to Banstead Manor Farm
He is certainly going to be given the very best chance of doing so. His book of 133 covered mares in his first term is very much befitting of a racehorse described by most as the greatest of all time.
Physique wise, Frankel, like many other great sires, wasn’t over-big nor was he too small as a racehorse. He possessed an incredible amount of muscle in all of the right places, allowing his legendary stride to effortlessly make him glide across the ground. He wasn’t what you could describe as a pretty horse, but despite that he was perfect in every way to look at.
Generally seen as a 1m-1m2f horse, it doesn’t take a scientist of any kind to work out that Frankel would have been extraordindary at the minimum sprint trips right up to 1m4f+. The residual class and ability he had would have allowed him to apply himself and prove superior to most, or all other horses over any trip – that is just how good he was.
So, what of his legacy outside of his racetrack escapades? Are we destined to have old YouTube videos as the only potent reminder of how brilliant he was?
Doubtful. Take a look at just a small handful of the mares who have enjoyed in his courtship at Banstead Manor Farm in the last year:
Queens on the racetrack
Danedream – Brilliant Prix de l’arc de Triomphe and King George winner, the German traind Danedream had it all. Class, guts and determination in abundance. She has all the credentials required to make it as a top broodmare.
Midday – One of the leading lights in the rise from the ashes of the great Sir Henry Cecil, Midday was another racing superstar bred from Juddmonte. She won the Fillies and Mares’ at the Breeders’ Cup and no less than three G1 Nassau Stakes, among her other G1 wins. Her dam, Midsummer, is on this list of mares Frankel has covered!
Dancing Rain – William Haggas trained this rather unique filly, who won the Epsom Oaks under a fantastic front-running ride from Johnny Murtagh. She also won the Qipco Fillies & Mares’ at Ascot on Champions Day.
Stacelita – Champion filly in France in 2009. A filly with a great burst of speed who won multiple Group 1 contests in her native land.
Dar Re Mi – A very classy customer on her day for John Gosden. She won three G1 races, including the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Vodka – A multiple champion in Japan as a 2yo, 3yo and 4yo, Vodka took all before her out east back in the ‘naughties’ between 2006-09, including the Japan Cup itself. She rates as fascinating proposition for Frankel.
Alexander Goldrun – A resilient and quality racemare for Jim Bolger. Two-time Pretty Polly winner, winner of the Nassau Stakes. Known also for a memorable duel with the brilliant Ouija Board.
Dams Of Champions
Zee Zee Top – A G1 winner in her own right, she is the dam of top class Group 1 winning Izzi Top, winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes for John Gosden.
Oatsee – Broodmare of the Year in USA, dam of Shackleford, winner of Metropolitan Handicap G1, Preakness Stakes G1 and Clark Handicap G1; also dam of Lady Joanne, winner of the G1 Alabama Stakes.
Maycocks Bay – Dam of Sariska, brilliant multiple Group 1 winner for Michael Bell. Dual Oaks winner, European Champion 3yo in 2009.
Flirtation – Dam of Attraction, unbeaten 2yo, dual 1000 Guineas winner and Coronation Stakes winner for Mark Johnston. It’ll be intriguing to see what becomes of this explosive family line.
Hororine – Producer of Treasure Beach, a powerhouse inmate from Ballydoyle and Coolmore, who was Champion Irish 3yo in 2011 and winner of the G1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park.
The above is merely the cherry-picked tip of a formidable iceberg of mares who have already visited the rather lucky devil that is the now retired Frankel, affectionately known as “Bobby” at the farm he stands at in Newmarket. To all intents and purposes, his strike rate of getting his covers into foal is excellent – this is a horse who has always known his job, and been very good at it.
In terms of whether or not he will become a super-sire, a “sire of sires” like his own sire Galileo, well, he has massive boots to fill in that regard and it is very difficult to say if he’ll reach quite that level.
If you were to ask whether or not his legacy is safe through his offspring, then it’ll have to be a resounding yes. Of course it is. He will definitely produce champion racehorses. Given the quality endless train of mares that will be swung his way in the years t come, it is not a case of if, but when, we begin to see young 2yo horses gifted with a remnance, just a hint of Frankel’s telltale turn of foot or a flicker of that majestic, omnipotent stride.
A hint or a flicker, in many cases, is all it will take for the racing community to know it wasn’t the postman.