Irish Derby Hero for Frankel

Tara Madgwick - Saturday June 26

Juddmonte Farm’s champion sire Frankel delivered Epsom Derby success this year for Godolphin with quality colt Adayar and has also given them victory in the Group I Irish Derby (1m4f), which was won overnight at the Curragh by Hurricane Lane.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Hurricane Lane won his first three starts before being beaten for the first time in the Epsom Derby when finishing third to his stablemate Adayar.

In this assignment, Hurricane Lane unleashed a powerful finish to run down the leader Lone Eagle (Galileo) to win by a neck with some seven lengths back to the third horse Wordsmith (Galileo).
 


“Coming into this race, I was confident that Hurricane Lane had gained a lot of experience from Epsom, when he was the most-fancied of our three runners. I think inexperience probably told that day – he came off the bridle a bit earlier than I expected at the top of the hill. He also lost both his front shoes, but we definitely saw a marked improvement in his homework afterwards,” said Charlie Appleby.

“Mentally, you saw that he was on his A-game today and came into the race a more experienced and battle-hardened horse. He is a fantastic looking individual and it’s hard to fault him.”

Hurricane Lane was purchased for 200,000 guineas at Tattersalls October.

A 200,000 guinea purchase for Godolphin from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Hurricane Lane was bred by Normandie Stud and is a full brother to stakes-placed Frankel’s Storm being from stakes-winning stayer Gale Force, a half-sister to Champion Older Female Stayer and Group I winner Seal of Approval.



Hurricane Lane is the 16th Group I winner worldwide for Frankel, who has built some impressive statistics from his stud career to date.

Of his 72 stakes-winners, 16 of them are Group I winners – three in Australia - and his stakes-winner to runner strike rate is 15.4%.... compare that to any of our leading sires and you will see why Frankel has been a popular choice for Australian breeders looking to have mares covered in the UK to Southern Hemisphere time.

There were five Frankel foals born in Australia last year, 19 the year before and 16 and 14 in the years before that.

Frankel sires 15.4% stakes-winners to runners!

Frankel stands at a fee of 175,000 pounds ($A318,216) this year.


 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.