Frankel Blueblood Mirage Dancer Strikes at the Highest Level in the Metropolitan

Mark Smith - Saturday October 3

He is arguably the best bred horse to race anywhere in the world this weekend, the seven-year-old Frankel entire Mirage Dancer (GB), who credited his dual Group 1 winning dam Heat Wave (Danehill) with her first winner at the elite level in Saturday’s $750,000 ATC Heineken Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick.

Fighting win by Mirage Dancer (Steve Hart)

Third in last year’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup at his Australian debut, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained entire took ten starts to break his duck in his adopted homeland.

With Nash Rawiller in the saddle, Mirage Dancer (GB) used his one and a half kilo advantage over the favourite Mugatoo (IRE) (Henrythenavigator) to win by a long-head with the leader Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom) a short-neck back in third.

“He travelled like the winner the whole race,” Rawiller said.

“I had a lot of horse under me on the home turn and Hush Rider took me as far as he need to go before he got out.

“He is a very good horse and we probably have not seen the best of him since the Caulfield Cup.

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“On today you would think he would go around in the Melbourne Cup and be a genuine chance.”

Another Group 1 for Nash (Steve Hart)

From one of Juddmonte Farm’s great families, Mirage Dancer is a son of their masterpiece Frankel out of Heat Haze (Green Desert) who was one five Group 1 winners, in addition to the champion sire Dansili (Danehill), out of Juddmonte’s blue hen Hasili.

Purchased by bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington for a syndicate including Seymour Bloodstock and Mark Casey, Mirage Dancer finished second in the Group III Glorious Stakes at Goodwood won by Baghdad from Prince Of Arran before his importation.

He hit the board in 12 of his 16 starts when trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

Mirage Dancer becomes the 11th Group 1 winner by Frankel whose 3yo daughter Hungry Heart finished a close second in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) earlier on the day while Frankel’s 7yo gelded son Finche finished a close-up third in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Frankel enjoyed a great day in Australia

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Race Result - The Metropolitan Gr1 2400m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 2:27.52
1
Mirage Dancer
- 7h Frankel (GB) x Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: N Rawiller 55.5
2
0.2
Mugatoo
- 6g Henrythenavigator (USA) x Elopa (GER) (Tiger Hill (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
3
0.4
Angel Of Truth
- 5g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Scarletini (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 52.5
4
1.9
Hush Writer
- 6g Rulership (JPN) x Star Of Sapphire (USA) (Tapit (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 53
5
4.0
Paths Of Glory
- 6g Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Pacific Rim (IRE) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: R & M Freedman Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 50.5
6
4.2
Zebrowski
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Polish Princess (GB) (Polish Precedent (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J Innes Jnr 50
7
4.3
Girl Tuesday
- 6m Street Cry (IRE) x Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: C E Conners Rdr: G Boss 52
8
4.4
Brimham Rocks
- 7g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Colima (IRE) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 53.5
9
4.5
Mustajeer
- 8g Medicean (GB) x Qelaan (USA) (Dynaformer (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J Bowman 58
10
4.8
Rondinella
- 6m Ocean Park (NZ) x Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Rachel King 51.5
11
6.0
Carif
- 5h So You Think (NZ) x Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: R Dolan 52.5
12
7.1
Wu Gok
- 7g Sebring (AUS) x Lipari (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: S Clipperton 55
13
8.7
Etah James
- 8m Raise The Flag (GB) x Etah (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Regan Bayliss 53.5
14
9.0
Azuro
- 7g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Anthropologie (IRE) (Okawango (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ms L Day 51.5
15
10.3
Sir Charles Road
- 7g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Giant Mystique (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: Brock Ryan 51
16
10.9
Norway
- 5g Galileo (IRE) x Love Me True (USA) (Kingmambo (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: A B Collett 50.5
17
11.1
Sentimental Miss
- 5m Reliable Man (GB) x Nostalgic (AUS) (Quest For Fame (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ms J Taylor 50
18
13.6
Attention Run
- 6m Hurricane Run (IRE) x Attention Please (GER) (Sternkoenig (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Gibbons 50
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