At the venue at which Frankel (GB) excelled on five occasions over the straight track on which he produced a career-defining victory in the G1 Queen Anne S., it was fitting that his first success in black-type company was delivered by a Juddmonte homebred in Fair Eva in this race that the operation sponsors. In a performance marked with more than a small measure of her sire's panache, the daughter of the high-class African Rose was just a snippet off the 2-year-old course record set by Henrythenavigator in the Coventry a few years ago with the prospect of Frankel getting a Classic winner from his first crop suddenly becoming much more likely. After signposting her obvious calibre when slamming the subsequent Listed Empress S. winner and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. third Nations Alexander (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) over this six-furlong trip at Haydock June 8, the flashy chestnut was a warm order to provide the landmark win and she did not disappoint under Ascot's darling Frankie Dettori. Restrained early to race more towards the rear than the front, she tanked her way into contention when allowed a slight length of rein approaching the two-furlong pole and gained the lead soon after with her rider still far from animated. Tackled by Kilmah for a brief period, Fair Eva quickly put that rival to the sword and strode away in the relentless fashion of her sire to register a commanding success.
“She's a very good filly and although it took her 50 yards to get into top gear, once she did she took four lengths in a furlong,” her rider commented. “She's a work in progress and this trip is on the short side.” Roger Charlton, who trained Frankel's dam Kind, has big plans for the winner. “I'm so pleased for Prince Khalid, who bred a great racehorse in Frankel who brought a lot of people into racing and it is tremendous that his progeny are doing so well,” he said. “That was a huge performance. She came with a note from Prince Khalid's farm in Ireland that they liked her very much and she has a very professional way about her. She's a great walker and a charming character to deal with. She goes about her business like a real pro and is a happy, relaxed filly. She is entered in [G1] Moyglare [Stud S. at The Curragh Sept. 11] and clearly will get seven furlongs, so that will come into the reckoning but we'll see what everyone wants to do.”
Group-placed at two, it was not until the late summer and autumn of her 3-year-old campaign that African Rose hit the heights so the portents are strong that Fair Eva is out of the top drawer. After finishing second in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, she went on to win the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup to place herself among the elite of her generation. She is a full-sister to Helleborine (GB), who beat the subsequent MG1SW Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) by five lengths in the G3 Prix d'Aumale at two before running second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. The second dam's half-brother Distant Music was also a classy juvenile, capturing the G2 Champagne S. and G1 Dewhurst S. before finishing third in a strong renewal of the G1 Champion S. a year later. African Rose also has a yearling full-brother to this winner and a colt foal by Kingman (GB).
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
PRINCESS MARGARET JUDDMONTE S.-G3, £50,000, ASC, 7-23, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:12.54, g/f.
1–#@FAIR EVA (GB), 126, f, 2, by Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: African Rose (GB) (Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 5-7f, G1SW-Eng, SW & G1SP-Fr, $401,755), by Observatory
2nd Dam: New Orchid, by Quest for Fame (GB)
3rd Dam: Musicanti, by Nijinsky II
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Roger Charlton; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $41,868. *First stakes winner for freshman sire (by Galileo {Ire}). Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kilmah (GB), 126, f, 2, Sepoy (Aus)–Perfect Star (GB), by Act One (GB). (32,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Mildmay Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Mark Johnston. £10,750.
3–Dainty Dandy (Ire), 126, f, 2, Dandy Man (Ire)–Pinewoods Lily (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). (€16,000 Ylg '15 GOFSPT; £200,000 2yo '16 GOFLON). O-Hurun Report Racing Ltd; B-Laurence Kennedy (IRE); T-Paul Cole. £5,380.
Margins: 4, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.65, 12.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Tallulah Rose (GB), Marie of Lyon (GB), How (Ire), Madam Dancealot (Ire), Nasimi (GB), Kocollada (Ire), Seduce Me (GB), Poet's Princess (GB), Kachess (GB). Scratched: Magical Fire (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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