“He’s nice to have around in the stable and professional in everything he does,” said trainer Mark Newnham of Saturday’s Parramatta Cup winner King Frankel. “You’d go a long way to find a more unassuming horse. On top of that he’s won four races and placed once from five starts since arriving in Australia eighteen months ago. He’s won more than $312,000 for his Darby Racing syndicate off an original purchase price of 90,000 Eurodollars (AUD 140,000). I’d like to think there’s more to come during the autumn.”
King Frankel was gelded shortly before leaving the Yorkshire stables of his former trainer Mark Johnston and was on the plane within a few weeks. Not surprisingly he arrived a little the worse for wear. “He was very light and in need of the spelling paddock,” said Newnham. “We gave him a long spell followed by a quiet month in the stables, and out he went again. That seems to be the best way to go with these European imports. We needed to find a good system because owners are bringing them to Australia in increasing numbers.”
King Frankel looks to be as game as they come as he dives at Banju in the closing stages - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
The fact that King Frankel hadn’t raced in thirteen months didn’t deter Mark from running the horse first up in an 1850m race for Class 1 and maiden horses at Newcastle on September 24th last year. “He had only one barrier trial but I was confident he was fit enough if ridden quietly,” said Mark. “Rory Hutchings took him straight back in a thirteen horse field and started to sneak up from the 600m,” recalled Mark. “Although pushed very wide on the turn he just raced away from them. I would be very reluctant to run an Aussie bred horse first up over a trip, but these Europeans are used to it. They don’t like being pushed out of their comfort zones in shorter races. Nowadays of course we ride him more positively.”
King Frankel wasn’t happy in “bottomless” conditions when third in a BM78 at Randwick on October 8th, but quickly atoned when he led most of the way to win a Warwick Farm midweeker as a $1.70 favourite with regular jockey Tyler Schiller in the saddle. Just over three weeks later he was allowed his own way in the 2300m The Beauford on Hunter day at Newcastle. He looked a happy horse bowling along in front and toyed with Queensland Derby winner Kukeracha to win by a space. King Frankel delivered in spades in his first preparation and was afforded a few weeks in the paddock. Two quiet 1200m Randwick trials fitted him for Saturday’s assignment in the listed Parramatta Cup. Mark wasn’t concerned about a first up assignment at 1900m, but says the race didn’t go completely to script.
“To be honest I expected Kerrin McEvoy to look for cover with Banju who was stepping up in class and having his first crack at a middle distance,” said Mark. “I would like to have led with King Frankel but Tyler was forced to take hold when Banju got very keen turning to the back and raced five lengths in front. We saw why Tyler Schiller is a top apprentice when the pace slackened a little between the 1000m and 600m. He just let King Frankel creep up on Banju during that softer section and was in exactly the right spot straightening for home. Our little horse just kept digging deeper to grab Banju in the last few strides. He’s an out and out stayer and conserves energy in the run. Full marks to Banju by the same token. He was very brave.”
Last season's champion Sydney apprentice Tyler Schiller returns to scale on King Frankel. He's riding plenty of winners five months into the new season - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Equally as proud of King Frankel’s flawless Australian record is Scott Darby, Founder and Managing Director of Darby Racing. The highly successful syndication company has been dabbling with European imports over the last five years. “I think we’ve purchased fifteen horses from overseas including three that haven’t raced yet,” said Scott. “I’m delighted to say that King Frankel on Saturday was our third stakes winner from the twelve horses we’ve raced in Australia, the others being Harpo Marx and Spirit Ridge.
“We normally buy from the Tattersall’s Horses In Training Sale at Newmarket, but we were able to buy this bloke privately thanks to the negotiating skills of respected Irish agent Hubie de Burgh. The original asking price was pretty steep but Hughie eventually got them down to our budget and we decided to go ahead. Although he’d won only one race at Pontefract, King Frankel had run five seconds which usually indicates some degree of competitiveness. The fact that he’s by the iconic racehorse and sire Frankel may have added to his appeal. In winning the Parramatta Cup our horse became Frankel’s 108th stakes winner world wide. Last breeding season he covered 223 mares, more than any other European stallion.”
In case you’re curious about the three new imports sourced by Darby Racing, I’m at liberty to divulge that all three are currently in light work with Bjorn Baker at Warwick Farm.
Anchorage is the best performed with one win and a stakes placing to his credit, while Highness is the winner of one race in France. Six start maiden performer Fleet Commander is by Galileo from the brilliant Australian mare Atlantic Jewel, winner of four Gr 1 races before joining the Coolmore broodmare band.
Scott Darby with She Will Reign's Golden Slipper trophy 2017 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Fleet Commander is a full brother to Russian Emperor who has boosted his famous dam’s breeding barn reputation with two recent Gr 1 victories. He won the Hong Kong Cup last May, and just last weekend scored a gutsy win in the HH Amir Sword Trophy in Qatar. Scott Darby is also enjoying the ride with the genuine and dour stayer True Marvel who’s been exactly that for his ownership group - 44 starts for 7 wins, 10 placings and almost $300,000 in prize money. “He stays all day and may well finish up as a jumper at some stage, but for now trainer Matthew Smith is aiming him for the Adelaide Cup. He’s been a fun horse.”
King Frankel wasn’t the only Mark Newnham trained runner to perform with distinction in the sultry conditions at Rosehill Gardens. The Randwick trainer was elated to see his eight time winning mare Expat return to her absolute best form in the Gr 2 Millie Fox, coincidentally a race she won last year. The daughter of Makfi exploded from the gates and quickly assumed her favourite role of pacemaker. She cruised at high speed to the turn and had the opposition scrambling on the corner. The talented Electric Girl aided by a very soft run, claimed Expat close to home to prevail by a neck but Newnham was far from disappointed. “She went off the boil after winning the Millie Fox last year,” he said. “Her runs were all OK but she just didn’t have the killer instinct. She checked out in every detail and continued to look great, but wasn’t even leaving the gates the way we know she can. We pulled the pin after The Invitation and sent her to the paddock. I think Saturday’s run was as good as any she delivered last year, and we’re confident we’ve got her back. She ran a great race in the Coolmore Classic last year and we’ll give her another crack at the same race on March 11th.”
Expat won the Millie Fox in 2022 and went close again on Saturday. Electric Girl grabbed her late in the Gr. 2 event - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Mere mention of the name Matcha Latte brings a twinkle to Mark Newnham’s eye. He has a big opinion of the laid back colt by Maurice, an opinion vindicated by his strong first up third in Saturday’s Hobartville Stakes. It took Matcha Latte a while to get it all together, and his maiden win came on the Kenso track at his fourth race start. The bar was raised suddenly when he took a quantum leap to Gr 3 company at his following start in the Gloaming Stakes. He was unlucky enough to clash with Godolphin’s Golden Mile whose star was on the rise. Any disappointment Matcha Latte’s connections felt in being trounced by 3.5 lengths, was erased by Golden Mile’s emphatic Caulfield Guineas win two starts later.
Barely out of maiden company Matcha Latte then tackled the Gr 1 Spring Champion Stakes. Admittedly he enjoyed a cosy run in transit, but got no favours on the turn when shunted four deep by Elliptical. He looked dangerous when he got to Elliptical’s girth inside the 200m, but Sharp ‘N’ Smart quickly claimed the pair. The latter prevailed narrowly from Elliptical with classy filly She’s Extreme just cutting Matcha Latte out of third prize.
Consider the form around Matcha Latte to come out of the Spring Champion Stakes. Elliptical failed in the Vic Derby but resumed with an impressive win in the C.S. Hayes Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Sharp ‘N’ Smart was beaten in the last few strides by Manzoice in the Vic Derby before returning to NZ for a spell. On resuming he ran second in the Thorndon Mile at Trentham and followed up with a stunning win in the Gr 1 Herbie Dyke at Te Rapa. She’s Extreme went to Melbourne to win the Kennedy Oaks. Sadly she went amiss after a recent barrier trial. That form line was further consolidated by Matcha Latte’s impressive third to Osipenko and Zou Tiger in Saturday’s Gr 2 Hobartville Stakes. As fresh as he was, he still gave the impression the 1400m was a tad too sharp. He was off the bit before the turn, but really worked into the race from the 200m. “He’ll go to the Randwick Guineas and the Rosehill Guineas after which we’ll know if Y.P. Ching’s Viribright Racing have themselves an Australian Derby colt.”
It took three nice horses to relegate Matcha Latte into 4th place in the Spring Champion Stakes - Sharp 'N' Smart, Elliptical and She's Extreme. Matcha Latte (Red and yellow hoops) was close up - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Mark was philosophical about Willinga Rufio’s unplaced effort in the Quayclean Hcp. “In hindsight it wasn’t the ideal race for him,” said Mark. “He’s usually a leader himself but couldn’t match it with Lindermann who set a strong pace all the way. Instead of doing his own thing as he does in longer races, he was never comfortable and struggled down the straight. He would have been better suited by a longer race as it turned out, but there wasn’t one. We had to get him started on his preparation and you’ve got to put it behind. His 60kgs obviously came into the equation too. I wasn’t too disappointed and Tyler Schiller felt the same way.”
Mark Newnham has emerged as one of Sydney's most successful trainers - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Mark hasn’t yet finally decided on which path King Frankel will take to the Sydney Cup. His next run will be in either the City Stakes (Mar 4th) or the Sky High Stakes (Mar 11th). After that the options are the Manion Cup (Mar 18th) or the Tancred Stakes (Mar 25th). “He’ll go into the Sydney Cup fourth up with a very handy weight,” said the trainer. “His ability to relax will be a big plus over the 3200m.”
Mark Newnham is acutely aware of the fact that “you can’t win ‘em all in the unforgiving business of horse racing. He was beyond ecstatic with King Frankel’s performance to bring off a long range plan in the Parramatta Cup, while Expat and Matcha Latte gave him hopes for better things to come over the autumn carnival. Willinga Rufio will keep for a different race on a different day. The talented trainer had a noticeable spring in his step as he walked to the Rosehill car park after the Hobartville Stakes on Saturday.
(Banner image - You can see the purpose in King Frankel's eye as he heads Banju in the last few strides - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)