With the new Flat turf season on the horizon, thoughts turn to this year's crop of two-year-olds from the wonder stallion that is Frankel.
Just searching Juddmonte Stallions we can see a list of juveniles, many named and all impeccably bred. With about 90 two-year-olds being sent to the four corners of the globe there will be plenty for race fans to enjoy.
A quick browse reveals a few potential stars with leading trainers.
Tom Dascombe, Roger Charlton, Sir Michael Stoute, Hugo Palmer, Andrew Balding, Ed Walker, Ralph Beckett, John Gosden, Saeed bin Suroor & Richard Hannon are just a few lucky handlers to know they have at least one Frankel to dream about this year.
Martyn Meade is no stranger when is comes to Frankel offspring. Eminent proved a star performer. This son of Frankel out of a winning mare who was placed at Group 1 class. Eminent was a cheap yearling purchase at 150,000 guineas, considering the stallion fee is now set at £175,000. This bay colt raced in the ownership of Sir Peter Vela.
Eminent made his debut at Newmarket back in 2016, when winning by two and three quarter length. He wasn't seen again until three when returning to Newmarket when victorious in the Craven Stakes (Group 3). Priced just 5/1 to win the 2000 Guineas, he was beaten just over three lengths in sixth place. Meade was frustrated by this performance when the horse was short of room in the closing stages.
The Epsom Derby proved similar with a huge run behind Wings Of Eagles but short of room in the closing stages. Still, to finish fourth in the Derby and beaten by less than two lengths illustrated an exceptional talent.
A month later in July, De Sousa rode the horse for the first time when competing in the Coral-Eclipse when fifth of nine at Group 1.
On the 15th August, Eminent raced at Deauville, France when winning unchallenged over one mile two furlongs.
His final race at three saw him journey to Leopardstown, Ireland and theQIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1). He finished third beaten less than three lengths.
Total prize earnings over this period of £437,527.
Frankel Frilly
One of this year's Frankel crop trained by Martyn Meade is a bay daughter out of Ladies Are Forever in the ownership of Reg Bond. Readers may remember Ladies Are Forever who was trained by Geoff Oldroyd. She won impressively on debut at Beverley when storming clear of the field by six lengths. A class sprinter, she won eight times from thirty-four races winning at Group 3 on three occasions. She achieved an official rating of 108 and total earnings of £352,529.
Frilly was foaled on 4th April 2016.
Meade has another Frankel 2yo under wraps, a bay colt named Fox Vardy.