Frankel gets his first Australian winner

Clinton Payne - Tuesday August 15

Chris Waller's $1.6m son of racing superstar Frankel made a winning return at Newcastle on the Beaumont track on Tuesday.

Advertisement
Merovee as a yearling when sold at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2016. Photo: Darryl Sherer

A three-year-old colt, Merovee is the first foal of the four-time stakes winner More Strawberries, and he beat the older horses when taking out the XXXX Gold CG&E Maiden Plate (1350m).

Merovee settled slightly worse than midfield in the early stages of the race before making his move out four-wide approaching the home turn.

In the straight, Merovee strode to the front passing the 300m then appeared in trouble when challenged by Legendofoz but the colt refused to surrender, finding plenty as the pair drew clear from the rest of the field.

Merovee ($2.40 fav) defeated Legendofoz ($3.20) by three-quarters of a length with 4-1/4 lengths back to the third placegetter Mister McIlroy ($3).

"He looked good but he felt really good," winning rider Hugh Bowman told Sky Racing.

"I was able to get moving when it suited me and I loved the way he dug deep the last 100 because he had a fight on his hands and for an inexperienced horse to respond the way he did I thought was a very good sign.

"To my eye he still looks very immature physically so he's going to develop into a much nicer horse in time but I'll leave Chris to manage him, he does a pretty good job at it."

More Strawberries and champion race mare More Joyous were sent to Europe by their owner John Singleton to be covered by Frankel in his first season at stud in Southern Hemisphere time.

More Joyous' foal is an unraced filly named Woman in the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable that's been to the trials on two occasions.

The only other three-year-old Frankel in Australia is the Robbie Laing-trained Frankel My Dear which made its debut at Flemington when fifth in a three-year-old handicap over 1000m on August 5.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
First Winner for Australian Derby Winner Levendi
Blueblood Pierro colt Levendi won the Group I ATC Australian Derby for the Gelagotis stable back in 2018 and is now on the board as a sire having produced his first winner on Friday.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Red Right Out Wins MM Queensland Qualifier
The 2026 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping will feature the third annual Queensland Off-The-Track Cup (QOTT) final on Sunday, 11 January 2026 at Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast. 
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.