The Frankel show rolled on overnight in France where his Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane posted another elite win taking out the Group I Grand Prix de Paris (2400m), while Shadwell owned and bred filly Mehnah became his 74th stakes-winner when taking out the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes (1m) at Killarney in Ireland.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Godolphin colour bearer Hurricane Lane thrashed Galileo colt Wordsworth to win by six lengths taking his overall record to five wins from six starts with his lone defeat a third in the Epsom Derby.
"It was a more straightforward race for me than in Ireland. We were better placed today and the ground was maybe a little bit kinder on him. But I think he's improved again,” said Buick.
"Credit to Charlie and the team at home to get him out of the Irish Derby. He had a hard race there and they were adamant this was a good target for him and they've been repaid.”
A 200,000 guinea purchase for Godolphin from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Hurricane Lane was bred by Normandie Stud and is a full brother to stakes-placed Frankel’s Storm being from stakes-winning stayer Gale Force, a half-sister to Champion Older Female Stayer and Group I winner Seal of Approval.
The Kevin Prendergast trained three year-old filly Mehnah scored her first Black Type success by three-quarters of a length at just her third start and a lot more I expected of the talented filly.
“Mehnah had an awkard niggly injury just before the Irish 1,000 Guineas and it has been baby steps with her. She was very undercooked but fit enough for that level and I have no doubt that she is a Group 1 filly. I would imagine she will go up in trip, maybe to 1m1f, but she would be a good ride in a strongly run Matron Stakes or Sun Chariot Stakes,” said winning rider Chris Hayes.
Mehnah is a half-sister to Group I winner Awtaad and two other stakes-placed horses and is the second stakes-winner among six winners from good producer Asheerah, a stakes-placed daughter of Shamardal.
Frankel has soared to new heights in 2021 and his popularity in Australia has been buoyed by the success of three Group I winners here this season in Converge (2YO), Hungry Heart (3YO) and Mirage Dancer (GB) (older stayer).
Interestingly, Frankel has 12 entries for the 2022 Golden Slipper, a race in which Hungry Heart finished fifth in 2020.
You can see his entries below.
