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Frankel Colt Has Classic Assignment

Mark Smith - Saturday September 1

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's strapping Frankel colt Farooq made an impressive seasonal debut in Saturday's Sabois 3YO BM 70 Hcp (1250m) at Morphettville Parks.

Settled back in last place by Todd Pannell, Farooq rounded up his five opponents with a minimum of fuss to defeat Maid Equal by one and three-quarter lengths with Dancer's Kin a further one and a half lengths back in third.

A first-up winner at Balaklava when making his career debut back in February, the Tony McEvoy-trained colt was far from disgraced when fourth in the Group III Breeders' Stakes and fifth, beaten a length and a half, in the Group II SA Sires' Produce Stakes.

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The stable has high expectations for the blueblood who holds entries in the classics in Melbourne this spring.


"I was a little bit worried in the first 100 to 200 metres, he just didn't seem all that interested coming out of the gates," the trainer's son Calvin McEvoy said.

"The one query today was the 1250m, we thought it might be a bit sharp for him.

"We always thought he was going to be a really nice staying three-year-old. What he did as a two-year-old was very good. We always knew there was improvement and to see him attack the line like that was outstanding.

"It's great to have such a regally-bred colt owned by a great supporter in Sheikh Khalifa.

"He'll head to Flemington now for a Listed race on the 15th. He is in the (Caulfield) Guineas and the (Victoria) Derby. He's got to come up a bit more, but we have always had a big opinion of him and on that there is improvement to come."

Sheikh Khalifa Al Maktoum purchased Farooq's dam Rostova (pictured ) through Tim Stakemire for $850,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale from the Newgate Farm draft. She was carrying Farooq at the time of her sale.

A daughter of Testa Rossa, Rostova won five stakes races highlighted by the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes and Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes.

Rostova has a 2yo filly by Fastnet Rock named Anaheed and a yearling colt foal by Medaglia d'Oro (USA), She was covered by Snitzel last spring.

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