Frankel progeny get mixed sales results
It has been a mixed start for the first yearlings by undefeated UK champion Frankel offered for sale in Australia.
The first lot through the ring at the Easter Sale in Sydney on Wednesday from a mare served in Europe to southern hemisphere time was passed in while the second fetched $610,000.
Angus Gold, racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, signed for the Frankel/Chocolicious filly, saying he didn’t expect to pay such a premium.
“To be honest, I didn’t think we’d have to pay that,” Gold said.
But she looks much more precocious than any Frankel I’ve seen. She looks like she should be a two-year-old.”
A colt out of Irish mare Buenos Aires was passed in at $475,000.
Gold said he had seen a lot of Frankel’s progeny overseas, but nothing had taken his fancy until he came to Sydney.
“I love the attitude of this filly,” he said.
“I went into the box beforehand to see her and it’s a no-nonsense hardy looking thing that wants to get on with it.”
The filly will not race in Australia and will instead head to South Africa.
Three more Frankel yearlings will be sold at the Easter Sale, including one from More Strawberries offered by John Singleton on Thursday.