Few would argue that Frankel is the world’s best active sire and his stock were in hot demand at Magic Millions on Thursday selling for up to $1million.
Juddmonte Farm’s flagship sire Frankel had just five yearlings to be offered at this sale and all have now gone through the ring with one passed in and the remaining four all selling at an average $825,000.
Yarraman Park got a great result with their Frankel filly from Cercle D’Or (IRE) that made $1million to the bid of Matt Houldsworth/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott. She is a half-sister to US stakes-winner Ozara and is the fourth foal of a winning half-sister by Acclamation to 2015 European Horse of the Year Golden Horn and stakes-winner Eastern Belle, the dam of Group III winner Megallan.
The family has already had success with Frankel to produce Group II winning filly Frankly Darling, who was also placed in the Group I Epsom Oaks.
“She’s got an immaculate pedigree, physically she’s one of the loveliest fillies in the sale,” said Gai Waterhouse, who has already trained a Frankel Group I winner in Converge.
“We identified her a long time before the sale – several months before – and we had a group of people and an agent also, Matt Houldsworth, who was very keen that one of his owners would become involved as well, so we are able to make a marriage, we believe, in heaven.”
Cercle D’Or had a colt by Maurice (Jpn) last year and is now in foal to Justify (USA).
Another Australian trainer that has had Group I success with Frankel is Chris Waller and he will prepare the $825,000 filly from Boujie Girl (USA) offered by Newgate Farm and bought by Waller Racing/ Mulcaster Bloodstock.
She is the second foal of Group I placed Boujie Girl, a half-sister to Group I Oaklawn Park Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock.
“We came here looking for a Frankel filly. The stats are really good in Australia and Chris (Waller) liked her - he trained Hungry Heart, so I think that was about where it finished,” said Guy Mulcaster.
“Lovely, athletic filly that came off a good farm so we’re happy with her. Very happy with her.
“She has a really relaxed manner, I thought. We’ll just take her through the system and see where she ends up. She won’t be pushed too hard and she’ll tell us where she’ll end up.”
Boujie Girl had a filly by Extreme Choice last year and is now in foal to Artorius.
Colts by Frankel from Edith Piaf (IRE) and Aubade (GB) sold for $750,000 and $725,000 respectively, the first to a partnership of Go Bloodstock Australia/Tom Magnier/Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggerman and the second to E Thoroughbred.
The colt from Edith Piaf was consigned by Ridgmont and is the first foal of an unraced half-sister to fast Group winning sprinter Home of the Brave, who campaigned successful in Australia and has been bought by a new partnership with Paul Moroney signing the docket.
“I saw him in the Hunter about four weeks ago and I’ve been given the specific order by Sir Owen Glenn of GO Bloodstock to find a horse that I thought would be a classic colt,” said Moroney.
“That is what he wanted and that is what I came up with as soon. As I saw him on the farm at Ridgmont I fell in love with him.
“I got hold of Sir Owen straight away and through his bloodstock manager I said ‘this is the horse I’ve found (and) and I really want you to buy him’.
“Sometimes these plans come off, sometimes they don’t.
“Sir Owen came out and had a look at his yesterday and fell in love with him. That was always a big plus. You want the boss on side.
“All of the crew were on the same page, and then Coolmore came along this morning and said that they were keen on him so we said we’d get together and form a partnership.”
The price was more than reasonable when you consider what a Frankel yearling can make in the Northern Hemisphere.
“I thought we bought really well, quite honestly. So much Sadler’s Wells about him and he’s out of a precocious family,” Moroney added.
“He’ll be a chance to be an autumn two-year-old, but I believe he’s a Guineas three-year-old. He struck me as a beautifully moving horse, great bodied horse, had a brain and temperament and he just had all of those qualities that Frankel throws into his crop.”
