A Frankel colt bred by Yulong and sold as a yearling to Amo Racing at the 2024 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 for 1.1million guineas is on track for a start in the Group I Epsom Derby after winning his first stakes race overnight at Newmarket.
Trained by Charlie Johnston and ridden by Rowan Scott, Ancient Egypt won his first two starts last year before finishing out of the placings in the Group II Royal Lodge Stakes and was making his seasonal reappearance in the Listed JCB Newmarket Stakes (1m2f).
He showed good stamina to forge clear and win by two lengths and has now three of four starts.
“We were thinking about Chester or Lingfield for Ancient Egypt, but when I saw this race was cutting up I thought we'd have a go. He disappointed here in the Royal Lodge last year, but he's grown up a lot over the winter and David Egan and Rowan have ridden him at home this year and said to go a mile and a half, which is why we made the running over this shorter trip,” said Charlie Johnston.
“I would say all roads lead to Epsom after that and he handled the Dip well here which is encouraging.”
Ancient Egypt is a half-brother to Group III placed Redressed and is the best of three winners from blueblood Oasis Dream mare Atone, a Juddmonte Farms bred winning sibling to Champion Mare and six time Group I winner Midday as well as Group winners Sun Maiden, Hot Snap and SW Midsummer Sun.
After producing Ancient Egypt, Atone was sent to Australia by Yulong and her first foal bred in Australia is a two year-old colt by Lucky Vega bred to Northern Hemisphere time.
She then had a year off and produced a filly by Grunt last spring to Southern Hemisphere time and she has now been sent back to the Northern Hemisphere.
Ancient Egypt is the 177th stakes-winner for champion sire Frankel.
