Super sire Frankel added a 23rd Group I winner to his tally overnight and he did it with Juddmonte Farms homebred colt Westover, who turned the Group I Irish Derby(1m4f) at the Curragh into a procession.
Trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Colin Keane, Westover improved on his last start third in the Epsom Derby to Desert Crown to win by a commanding seven lengths.
“Colin gave Westover a super ride, was very cool beforehand and very clear what he was going to do, and that always helps,” said Ralph Beckett.
“He's in the King George, that'd certainly be an option. He's not ground dependent this horse. We really go where we want, when we want.
“It all went beautifully. I didn't think he'd do it like that, I really didn't think he was capable of that at this stage. He's still a work in progress, he's a big, long horse and he's going to get better with age.”
Westover had a win and two placings last season at two and now has the overall record of three wins and three placings from six starts.
Westover is a full brother to Group III winner Monarchs Glen and is the best of seven winners from Group III winning Lear Fan mare Mirabilis, a half-sister to dual Group I winner Nebraska Tornado.
The family has an offshoot branch in Australia through Panorama Ridge (USA), a daughter of Nebraska Tornado that has left two stakes-winners here in Mallory and Sassy ‘n’ Smart.
Westover is the fifth Group I winner for Frankel in 2022 joining Nashwa, Homeless Songs, Inspiral and the Australian based Converge.
