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...
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.