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Frankel broke new ground on Tuesday when Merovee provided the sire with his first winner in Australia.
As a son of the unbeaten Frankel out of Group 2 winner More Strawberries, who finished placed in the prestigious Golden Slipper, big things had been expected of Merovee since he fetched A$1.6m at the Inglis Australian Yearling Sales last year.
The Chris Waller-trained colt, who turned three in the southern hemisphere two weeks ago on August 1, could finish only sixth on his debut in March but was a different proposition with that experience under his belt and he got off the mark when taking the 1,350m [just short of seven furlongs] maiden under Hugh Bowman at Newcastle.
“He looked good and felt really good,” Bowman said to Racing New South Wales following the victory, which was achieved by just over three-quarters of a length. “His [debut] run was maybe disappointing at face value but I wasn’t disappointed because it was a slowly run 1,200m [six-furlong] race and he was simply outsprinted.”
Bowman added: “To the eye he still looks very immature physically so he is going to be a much nicer horse in time.”
Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth also expects the colt to improve as he strengthens with age.
“Physically he was beautiful as a yearling but just when he grew he went a little bit weak on us – but that’s all part and parcel of growing up. He’s still got some strengthening to do so I’d imagine he is only going to get bigger and better in the next six months.”
Frankel, winner of all 14 starts, including ten Group 1 races, has now had winners in Britain, Ireland, France, Japan, the US, Germany, Argentina, Chile and Australia as a sire.
The victory comes just four days after the first foal of Australian superstar Black Caviar, Oscietra, won on her second start on Friday. – Racing Post.