Frankel Blueblood Triumphs in Grand National Hurdle

Mark Smith - Sunday August 6

The 10yo gelding San Remo (IRE) is unlikely to make the first page of Frankel’s best, but what a fantastic performer he has been for connections who were out in force to celebrate his victory in Sunday’s $300,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown-Lakeside.

A career highlight for the ageless San Remo (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

 The former Ballydolyle inmate arrived in Australia with just a win at Dundalk in 2017 to his name in nine starts.

Advertisement

 Archie Alexander took up the torch in Australia. It took nine starts for San Remo to break his duck in his adopted homeland when he was successful at Cranbourne in December 2018.

It was a further six starts for his second, which came at Stawell in April 2019, by which time he was in the stables of Dane Smith.

Lining up for his 82nd start in the Grand National Hurdle, San Remo looked a spent force when left flat-footed, but Aaron Kuru picked him up to overpower the leader Count Zero (Zed) by two lengths with Bedford (Tavistock) one and a quarter lengths back in third.

The bluest of bluebloods, San Remo advances his record to eleven wins, five seconds, and twelve thirds from 82 starts with earnings of $536,567.

Bred by Barrondtown Stud, San Remo is a half-brother to Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Group 1 Prix de la Foret winner Make Believe (Makfi) (sire of French Derby winner Mishriff),  and the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes and  Grade 1 Gamely Stakes heroine Dubawi Heights (Dubawi).

They are out of the  Suave Dancer mare Rosie’s Posy, a half-sister to the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Tante Rose (Barathea).

Advertisment

Race Result - Grand National Hrdl 4200m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Soft(5) Time: 5:10.28
1
San Remo
- 10g Frankel (GB) x Rosie's Posy (IRE) (Suave Dancer (USA))
Tnr: Dane Smith Rdr: A N Kuru 64
2
2.0
Count Zero
- 9g Zed (NZ) x My Duchess (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Chris Mc Carthy 64
3
3.3
Bedford
- 10g Tavistock (NZ) x Dastaria (NZ) (Stark South (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: T Ryan 67
4
5.7
Bell Ex One
- 6g Excelebration (IRE) x Bonnie Bluebell (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Bobbin Rdr: W Gordon 69
5
7.2
Frankenstar
- 7g Fiorente (IRE) x Witchuponastar (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Ms K Durden Rdr: Campbell Rawiller 64
6
9.2
Instigator
- 10g Nayef (USA) x Imagery (GER) (Monsun (GER))
Tnr: Aaron Purcell Rdr: Lee Horner 65.5
7
11.0
El Diez
- 7g All Too Hard (AUS) x Buenos Aires (IRE) (Rainbow Quest (USA))
Tnr: E V Musgrove Rdr: Edward Keating 64
8
17.0
Blandford Lad
- 8g Savabeel (AUS) x Staryn Glenn (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Peter Gelagotis Rdr: Luke Dempsey 67.5
More Reading...
Velocious sells for staggering $1.625m on Inglis Digital to Yulong
The G1-winning 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) tonight became the second most expensive filly ever sold on Inglis Digital, realising $1.625m to the bid of Yulong.
Mark Ford Joins Widden Victoria as Stud Manager
Widden Stud is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Ford as Stud Manager of its Victorian farm at Riddells Creek.
Exceedance 2yo Express Class Surprises On Debut
Surprisingly unwanted in the betting, having won two of his four jumpouts prior to making his debut, the Gerard Maloney trained Exceedance 2yo Express Class got the better of the race favourite to make a winning debut in the Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap (1000m) at Sandown.
Glorious Goodwood Day 2 – Field of Gold is No Frankel
The second day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting was supposed to be the one where charismatic grey three year-old Field of Gold smashed his elders to win the Group I Sussex Stakes (1m), but that didn’t happen and instead we saw the longest priced G1 winner in British history.
Doomben Debut Winner for Anders
Widden Stud’s young gun Anders added a seventh first crop winner to his tally on Wednesday with a debut victory at Doomben for handsome chestnut gelding Anders’ Style.
Glorious Goodwood Day 1- Bluebloods, Bargains and Tragedy
The famed Glorious Goodwood meeting got underway overnight with three Group races contested that saw all of the favourites rolled with a new G1 winner for Justify, a first stakes-winner for a young Frankel sire son and a return to form for Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 30
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Stewart honoured with Young Achiever at NZ National Breeding Awards
White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart was recognised with the Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award at Saturday’s National Breeding Awards in Karapiro, highlighting his growing impact on New Zealand’s breeding and racing landscape.
Wakefield Gears Up for Another Busy Season
Wakefield Stud is preparing for another busy breeding season in 2025, as the business continues its re-emergence in the industry after coming under new ownership in 2024.
Promising Tagaloa Winner
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan went to Warwick Farm on Wednesday hoping she had a horse with a bright future and now she knows she has after two year-old colt Tambeloa relished a step up in trip to break his maiden.