A ‘One to Watch’ when winning on debut at Pakenham earlier this month, Frankel filly Steinem confirmed our high opinion of her when bolting in at Sandown on Wednesday
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Steinem was sent out favourite this time with Jye McNeil in the saddle and powered home from back in the field.
She scored a commanding three and a half length win in the 1600m contest that clearly marked her as a contender for much better races.
"That felt really good the way she let down, she was a great winner at Pakenham but then to come here into Benchmark 64 city grade today was always going to be a big step, but she demolished them," McNeil said.
"I did have a lot of ground to make up but initially after letting down I was worried whether I got there too early, she really put them away really quickly.
"Thankfully she's switched on and smart enough to go on with it. She's a nice one for the future.”
The Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks (2000m) on may 1 looms as a possible target for this super talented filly.
A $400,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Esker Lodge draft for Ciaron Maher Racing, Steinem runs for a syndicate that includes her breeders Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock and Frank Cook’s Mystery Downs in whose colours she runs.
Foaled in the UK, Steinem is the first foal of Thai Noon (IRE), a winning Dansili daughter of stakes-winner Alsace Lorraine, a grand-daughter of Champion French 2YO Filly Miss Tahiti, the dam of Group I Newmarket Thousand Guineas winner Miss France, who is also by Dansili.
Thai Noon had a colt by Frankel that made $500,000 at Inglis Easter last year when bought by Michelle Payne Racing / Sardar Azmoun.
She has no yearling for the sales this year, but did have a Pierro filly off a late service in 2020.
Frankel has a great record in Australia with 22 winners from 35 runners highlighted by six stakes-winners – Mirage Dancer, Miss Fabulass, Finche, Frankely Awesome, Significance and Hungry Heart, who will line up in the Group I ATC Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
He has six entries for Inglis Easter.
