High Price Frankel Colt Breaks His Maiden

Mark Smith - Tuesday August 15

A beaten favourite at Newcastle back in March when making his only appearance at two, high-priced Frankel colt Merovee broke his maiden status over 1350m on the Beaumont track on Tuesday.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman for trainer Chris Waller, Merovee (pictured below as a yearling) won the battle of bluebloods, defeating the Fastnet Rock x Princess Coup gelding Legendofoz by three-quarters of a length with 4-1/4 lengths back to the third placegetter Mister McIlroy (Fastnet Rock).

Advertisement

Settled back midfield by Bowman, Merovee made his move before the home turn.


He looked to be in trouble when challenged by Legendofoz but was safely holding the Fastnet Rock gelding on the line.

The first two across the line sport the Vinery silks.

"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."

Merovee was consigned to the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale by his breeder, John Singleton's Strawberry Hill Stud.

He was knocked down to Chris Waller Racing for $1.6 million, the most expensive of the five yearlings by the undefeated Frankel sold in Austrasia in 2016.

He is the first foal of the dual Group II winner More Strawberries (More Than Ready) (pictured above), a half-sister to Group I Emirates Stakes winner and successful sire All American.

More Strawberries dam Milva (USA) (Strawberry Road) is a half-sister to Rock Hard Ten (Kris S) winner of the Grade I Santa Anita H. and Grade I Santa Anita Malibu Stakes out of the top-class Mr Prospector mare Tersa.

Singleton retains an interest in Merovee and he also has the unraced homebred Frankel filly, Women, who is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Women is out of Singleton's 8-time Group I winner More Joyous who, like More Strawberries, is by More Than Ready (USA). 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Flemington Victory for Tarzino Mare
Quirky but talented mare Miss Tarzy has come from last win the Leilani Series Final (1400m) under a patient Jett Stanley ride.
Spring Goals Await Caloundra Cup Winner Half Yours
With spring staying features on their minds, Tony and Calvin McEvoy sent their improving stayer north to Queensland for Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) with instant success as the 4yo gelding Half Yours romped home by four and a half lengths.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Divine Prophet’s Fortunate Kiss Captures Elusive Black Type Win
With nine top five finishes in previous black type races, it was better late than never as 6yo Divine Prophet mare Fortunate Kiss charged along the inside to win the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday – her first black type victory.
Dubawi Colt from $US8million Mare Wins G1 Coral Eclipse for Coolmore
Blueblood Dubawi colt Delacroix was a beaten favourite in the Group I Epsom Derby when unplaced behind his stablemate Lambourn, but he found his time to shine overnight when scoring a miraculous last to first win in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes (1m2f) at Sandown.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
New Juvenile Stakes-Winner Wootton Bassett
A two year-old Wootton Bassett  colt bred to stay, Daytona made it two wins as many starts when scoring a dominant win in the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes (1m) at Naas in Ireland overnight.
New Sprint Star for WA?
Oakland Park's veteran WA sire Sessions is rarely without a good horse to represent him, and the son of Lonhro now has his sixth stakes winner after exciting 3YO galloper Repossession spanked the older horses to win the Listed Beaufine Stakes at Pinjarra Park.
Sixth Winner for Anders
First past the post at Wyong on June 24, talented Anders filly Sapling lost that race on protest, but quickly made amends when returning to the same track on Saturday to score her first actual victory.