On Wednesday 5th April, a chestnut yearling colt will be led into the famed sales ring of Inglis & Sons. He will be entirely oblivious to just how unique he is. To explain that he is a son of the all-conquering undefeated multiple world champion racehorse Frankel is to remove the romance of the global adventure that led to his conception and to his eventual journey to sale.
Frankel, immortalized as the greatest racehorse seen by many, is domiciled in Great Britain at Juddmonte Farm in Newmarket and will rarely, if ever, leave this picturesque stud. He is simply too valuable to risk. The British media once valued Frankel at a jaw dropping £100 million (RMB 866 million) after the equine masterpiece became the first horse in more than 60 years to be crowned champion two-year-old, champion three-year-old and champion four-year-old in Britain.
His retirement to stud was warmly greeted by European biggest breeders as well as by a select band of adventurous breeders from Australia and New Zealand. Undeterred by the tyranny of travelling a mare from Australasia to Great Britain and back or by the extensive costs and planning required, they also sent mares to be covered by Frankel upon his retirement to stud, albeit to ‘Southern Hemisphere Time’ to coincide with the local breeding season.
In 2013, no more than 25 mares were sent to Frankel. In 2014, only 11 mares were singled out for such an onerous return flight. One of these 11 was Lovetorn, the dam of this chestnut colt by Frankel. One of 11 to be born in a 12,985 foal population in 2015.
“The appreciation of rare and unique assets is understood by people the world over. Some are drawn to jewellery or cars or artworks. But the significance of the rare and unique is equally evident in the thoroughbred industry and this colt is a clear example,” said Michael Wallace, Head of Bloodstock and Racing for the China Horse Club.
“He is a rare commodity in every sense. Of the 11 Frankels born Southern Hemisphere Time, not all will be offered for sale, a number are being retained by their breeders which makes the sale of this colt special. He is a blessed with athleticism and strength and if his abilities match his physique, then his future value as a potential stallion could really be immense.”
The Frankel x Lovetorn colt headlines a quarter of yearlings that the China Horse Club will be selling as breeders at next week’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney, Australia. Joining this colt will be a half-sister to Australia’s Champion Stayer of last season, Preferment. The filly is from one of the best families in the studbook and from the final crop of the exceptional sire O’Reilly.
The first foal of the China Horse Club’s former crack juvenile Casquets is also worth noting. Casquets was talented enough to win at stakes level at only her second career start and her Pierro filly looks a quality individual. Rounding out the quartet is a Fastnet Rock colt out of the multiple stakes winning mare Impressive Eagle who is herself a member of a proven sprinting family. The two fillies and the Fastnet Rock colt have been bred in partnership with Coolmore Australia.
“The four yearlings that are being taken to auction are representative of our goal to present quality thoroughbreds for sale at major auctions around the world,” Wallace added.
“The breeding arm of our business is growing and this new division is focused on breeding world class thoroughbreds that can deliver on the aspirations of their new owners.”
The Inglis Easter Yearling Sale will run from 4th – 6th April. Inglis is a Gold Partner of the CECF Ordos.
If you would like to learn more about the China Horse Club exclusive membership offer, please email your inquiry to horses@chinahorseclub.com