WHEN Frankel took his final bow at Ascot four years ago, an unbeaten racing career culminating in his victory in the Champion Stakes, the challenge was to follow that stellar performance.
Not just to his pretenders but also to the horse himself when he was sent to stud.
The results of Frankel as a stallion thus far have been impressive, with seven of his first nine runners winning, and such was the interest in his first runner, Cunco, that the race at Newbury last month was featured on News at Ten.
Now the chance to make the next headline for Frankel falls to Fair Eva when she runs in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot today, attempting to become the sire’s first group-race winner.
Fair Eva, who is trained by Roger Charlton, is already ante-post favourite for next season’s 1000 Guineas having won on her debut at Haydock last month and Charlton said: “She always looked good. I’d have been disappointed if she hadn’t won. I like the way she did it – she’s very professional and, like Frankel, she’s got a good action.
“I might have been surprised by the manner in which she won and I’m encouraged by the fact that the form is turning out to be strong.”
The manner of Fair Eva’s four-length victory was underlined when the second, Nations Alexander, won a Listed race at Newmarket next time out and Charlton added: “It’s unfolded nicely and I was pleased to see the form of the second, the third and others further back have mainly endorsed it.”
Ryan Moore, who rode Fair Eva at Haydock, would probably endorse the trainer’s enthusiasm but is now claimed by Aidan O’Brien to ride his runner, How, which allows Frankie Dettori to take the mount.
A first group winner would be another endorsement of Frankel’s potential whose dam, Kind, was trained by Charlton to win six of her 13 starts, although the one caveat for Charlton might be that his filly will start out wide, drawn 13 of 13 runners.
“It’s encouraging that Frankel has got five- and six-furlong winners when he was bred to be a mile and a quarter horse,” he said. “They’ve got speed and most of them don’t pull up very easily – they’re last furlong is their best furlong.”
Charlton will be hoping that the best furlong for Fair Eva is yet to come.
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