The $200,000 Listed ATC Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m ) at Rosehill on Saturday attracted a competitive field of 14 stayers, the bulk of them imports and when you strike an open race like that it’s often wise to follow this piece of advice – when in doubt back a Frankel!
Touristic wins the Listed Lord Mayor's Cup - image Bradley Photography
It’s been a while between drinks for the Peter Snowden trained Frankel gelding Touristic (GB), who had not won since saluting at Mornington last June, but he found conditions to suit with a great ride from Andrew Adkins.
He handled the heavy ground and charged to the line to win by two lengths and has now won five of 37 starts with this victory his first in a Black Type race.
"I thought the main thing for him today was to begin well, which he's not really known for," Adkins said.
"That was one box ticked early on and I just wanted to have the most economical run as I could, and that was another box ticked.
"He had a fluent run from the 600m so he was always going to be strong late.
"He's been crying out for a track like that, rain affected, and he got that today as a fit horse.
"I knew he would love that track, which he did.
"He was a fit horse so he was never going to stop."
Touristic is the 20th stakes-winner in Australia for Frankel.
Bred by Wertheimer & Frere, Touristic was bought privately out of Europe and is the only winner from stakes-winning Shamardal mare Heuristique.
He is the 159th stakes-winner for Juddmonte Farm’s champion sire Frankel, who has a particularly good record in Australia.
Frankel has sired 20 stakes-winners in Australia and they include Group I winners Hungry Heart, Converge and Mirage Dancer with his SW to runner strike rate in Australia running at 19.4%, which compares favourably with his overall lifetime SW to runner strike rate of 16.9%.
His lifetime winner to runner strike rate in Australia is 75%, so you can see why – ‘when in doubt back a Frankel’ is more than likely going to pay off!!
