Frankel's Herman Hesse Strikes in G2 Herbert Power Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday October 12

The 8-year-old Frankel gelding Herman Hesse (GB) is in the form of his life, backing up his win in the Listed Ansett Classic at Mornington with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Group II Sportsbet Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.

Age is just a number for Herman Hesse (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Declan Bates for Ciaron Maher, Herman Hesse (GB) stalked the pace set by his stablemate Okita Soushi (IRL) and the pair fought out the race.

Herman Hesse (GB) defeated the imported son of Galileo (IRE) by one and a quarter lengths with the Pride Of Dubai gelding Fancy Man a length back in third.

A 75,000gns purchase for Australian Bloodstock / Ronald Rauscher / Ciaron Maher Racing from the 2020 Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, Herman Hesse (GB) advances his record to seven wins, three seconds, and nine thirds from 40 starts with earnings of $524,052.

Advertisement

Herman Hesse (GB) I not in the Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup, but Maher said there are no shortage of suitable races for him.

“Herman can mix his form, but credit to the girls, Aaron, and the team down at Fingal,” Ciaron Maher said.

“He was about 50 kilos, 60 kilos overweight, and just bowling up and down the sandhills there. You know, he's a big, strong horse that takes a lot of work, and he just found his niche down there, can't thank them enough.

“He's a horse that requires a higher level of work as a big, strong gelding.. They just do more work there. Every day they do less galloping, and he seems to be thriving on it.

“Australian Bloodstock, we've scaled the heights. Hopefully, Herman's on the way to scaling some more heights, but they're just a great team to work with. They've got a big, massive ownership group, can’t thank them enough.

“I'm glad he's put a couple together. He's probably in career-best form. He looks fantastic and they're going to have a great rest of the spring carnival as well.

The old warrior (image Grant Courtney)

Okita Soushi is a dour, dour stayer. Two miles is his go. And I said to his owner he will run a better race today. I just changed the gear around, took a noseband off, put a Norton bit on, nice positive ride by Billy. If we can sneak him in, he'll run a race in the (Melbourne) Cup.”

Bred by Lady Bamford, Herman Hesse is a brother to the Group 1 Epsom Oaks heroine Soul Sister and the Group III Saint-Cloud Prix Thomas Bryon winner Dreamflight.

His dam Dream Peace (Dansili) won the Group II  Deauville Prix de la Nonette and was 5-time Group 1 placed.

Dream Peace is a three-quarter sister to the former Coolmore shuttler, Catcher In The Rye (Danehill).

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Herbert Power Stakes Gr2 2400m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 2:29.03
1
Herman Hesse
- 8g Frankel (GB) x Dream Peace (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Declan Bates 53.5
2
1.3
Okita Soushi
- 7h Galileo (IRE) x Amicus (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: W Egan 54.5
3
2.3
Fancy Man
- 7g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Fancy (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: D W Stackhouse 55.5
Pride Of Dubai
4
2.4
Brayden Star
- 6g Twilight Son (GB) x Desert Liaison (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Craig Williams 53
5
3.9
The Map
- 6m Alpine Eagle (AUS) x This Moment (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: D Clarken & O Macgillivray Rdr: L Currie 54.5
6
4.3
Mister Wolfgang
- 6g Puccini (NZ) x Navy Beach (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun McKay Rdr: M J Dee 53
7
5.1
Commando Drift
- 6m Complacent (AUS) x Sena (AUS) (Helenus (AUS))
Tnr: Thomas Sadler Rdr: Jett Stanley 53
8
5.3
Haaracaine
- 5h Muhaarar (GB) x Fiuise (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: Patrick Moloney 53
9
5.3
Le Don De Vie
- 9g Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) x Leaderene (GB) (Selkirk (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M Zahra 58
10
6.1
Dashing Duchess
- 5m Tavistock (NZ) x Charlotte Russe (NZ) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Teodore Nugent 53
11
6.4
Gear Up
- 7g Teofilo (IRE) x Gearanai (USA) (Toccet (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: J Mott 56
12
7.6
Post Impressionist
- 6g Teofilo (IRE) x Island Remede (GB) (Medicean (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 57.5
13
10.6
Mahrajaan
- 7g Kitten's Joy (USA) x Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: Damian Lane 58
14
15.1
Think 'N' Fly
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Gliding (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: D M Noonan Rdr: D Moor 53
15
24.1
Aurora's Symphony
- 8g Glass Harmonium (IRE) x Aurora's Hot (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Jordan Childs 55.5
More Reading...
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Jenni The Pride of Trelawney
Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night.
Evaporate Caps Off Great Week for Per Incanto
Evaporate crowned a stellar period for his sire across the Tasman when he produced a gallant performance to land the thick end of the stake in Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).
Frankel's Herman Hesse Captures Ansett Classic
Herman Hesse (GB) rounded out a red-letter day for Ciaron Maher at Mornington on Sunday when winning the feature Listed RM Ansett Classic (2400m).
Kiwi Stayer Chasing Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket
Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, will get his first opportunity to earn a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he heads to Flemington on Saturday.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Satono’s Stunning Stats Continue as Rich Hill Sires Shine
Rich Hill Stud’s Group 1 stallion roster was the dominant force at Te Rapa’s premier meeting with their progeny claiming a feature race double.
Magic Carpet Writes New Chapter for Family
Jenna McLeod got a massive thrill when watching the latest generation of her family’s breed score at stakes level at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Petrol in the Tank – Why Buying Mares from Godolphin is a Good Idea
From the point of view of the bloodstock world, Beiwacht was the most significant winner from last weekend with his Group I Golden Rose victory propelling his sire Bivouac to the top of the second season sires list, but it wasn’t just Godolphin cheering him home with a number of other Aussie breeders now invested in his family.