“Frankel and his record-making achievements seem to know no bounds. He excels physically and mentally in all that he does, from racehorse to stallion and simply in his day-to-day routine. What a privilege it is to witness this extraordinary horse in our lifetime.”
Frantastic (GB) (Frankel ex Rhadegunda by Pivotal), standing at Hopes and Dreams Stud (Pic – Supplied)
That was the response of Juddmonte’s General Manager Simon Mockridge, after the homebred champion reached a new milestone in his already illustrious stud career, a 100th stakes winner, courtesy of juvenile daughter Lake Victoria’s victory in the Gr3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket.
The Juddmonte champion has proven to be a worthy successor to his illustrious sire Galileo and is rightfully regarded as the best son of the former Coolmore supremo. The next phase of his stud career is that as a sire of sires, and it is pleasing to note that in that sphere, he is already off to a fine start.
Frankel’s first son to retire to stud in Europe was the four-time Gr1 winner Cracksman, who counted no less then undefeated champion and French Derby winner Ace Impact in his debut crop.
Another son, the Gr1 St James’s Palace Stakes winner Without Parole, is showing distinct signs of promise too, with seven first-crop winners from 19 runners.
That many of those winners possess less than ritzy pedigrees is a sure sign that he is upgrading his mares. In addition, his progeny possess a blend of tactical speed and stamina and more importantly, impress with their courage and determination, very much a trademark of the Galileo tribe.
The majestic Frankel (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Still to show their hand are Frankel’s more recently retired sons Chaldean, Mosthadaf and Triple Time, all Gr1 winners, by the way.
It was always a given that South African breeders would eventually hitch their wagon to the Frankel star and this coming breeding season, they will have access to not just one, but two well-bred sons.
Basie and Suzette Viljoen will stand Frantastic, a winning full-brother to aforementioned Cracksman. Twice a winner from just seven starts, he suffered a career-ending injury, which was perhaps fortuitous in that he became affordable to South Africa.
Bred and raced by Anthony Oppenheimer, the five-year-old has an enviable pedigree, above and beyond his illustrious older brother.
Their stakes-winning Pivotal dam Rhadegunda is a granddaughter of 1000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes heroine On The House, from the fabled family of Coronation Stakes winner Rebecca Sharp.
It is also the family of Oppenheimer’s champion Golden Horn, winner of the Derby, Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2015, as well as the Ribblesdale winner and Oaks third Frankly Darling and Australian star Vow And Declare, who claimed the 2019 Melbourne Cup.
Added Suzette: “We loved his pedigree and obviously the specimen too, but the pedigree was really something we thought we’d need in South Africa. The very positive thing about Frantastic is that he’s compatible with most of the mares in South Africa.”
Drakenstein have repatriated homebred Sharp Frank, a half-brother to their Horse of the Year Oh Susanna. His career was limited to just one start at three, but such was the esteem he was held in by trainer Andrew Balding, that Drakenstein took the decision to afford him a chance at stud.
Drakenstein Stud’s Kevin Sommerville told Sporting Post: “We’ve come up with a deal for breeders who support Sharp Frank. There are those who are behind him and he should cover a nice book of mares. We’ll also give him a full go with our own mares.”
A handsome individual with a superb action, he will stand for a fee of R5000.
Needless to say, both Frankel’s sons will have to overcome the bias of breeders against horses who lack black type on their CV’s, but history shows that those with superior bloodlines can make it as a stallion in this country.
Sharp Frank (GB) (Frankel ex Sharp Susan by Touch Gold), standing at Drakenstein Stud (Pic – Supplied)
One that comes to mind is Joy II. Superbly bred, he was by Djebe out of that wonderful broodmare Perfume II, a half-sister to the famous American sire Ambiorix, and to Source Sucree, the dam of Turn-To.
That made him three-part brother in blood to 2000 Guineas winner My Babu, and a half to Sayani and Marco Polo II, all of which became top sires.
No great shakes on the track, Joy II won just twice and wasn’t blessed with the best of front legs, yet he became a sire of note in South Africa, twice climbing as high as third on the General Sires list.
As befits a descendant of important taproot mare Lavendula II, he proved a potent broodmare sire and more importantly, features prominently in the bottom line of powerhouse stallions Jet Master and Dynasty.
Another whose stud prowess exceeded that of his raceform was Peaceable Kingdom, the sire of champion filly Fast Piece, Gr1 winners Windsor Crown, My Magic, Paschal and the classy sprinters Monastery, Lord Elect and Blazing Inferno.
A half-brother to the top runner and successful stallion Home Guard, he won just once but hailed from a potent family, that of the grand sire Boldnesian and the top fillies Princessnesian and Revidere.
Even in South Africa, his form should have been too bad to attract much patronage, but what he and Joy II had in common was blue blood. Both Frantastic and Sharp Frank lack nothing in that department.
