By Tom Frary
Enoch (Frankel), a half-brother to Wootton Bassett's Prix du Jockey Club, Champion and Irish Champion-winning sire Almanzor, was sent off at 4-1 for Newmarket's seven-furlong maiden on Friday and raced in rear after a tardy start. Staying on powerfully up the hill inside the final furlong, George Strawbridge's homebred collared the long-time leader Battle Apple (Cracksman) en route to a 1 1/4-length success.
“He's been a horse we've taken our time with,” John Gosden said. “The mare had one brilliant horse and it's not worked out too well since then, but this is hopefully a smart colt. He's not over-big, but I like the way he's improved in his work through the last six weeks. Rab [Havlin] had a nice feel off him the other day in his work, we weren't expecting him to come and win but he's done it well.”
“We're still in September, so I might see what else there is for him,” he added. “Whether he can go for a novice or something more interesting, we'll see. I think he'd handle a bit of cut in the ground.”
The winner is out of Darkova (Maria's Mon), who other than Almanzor has produced three Stakes performers including this colt's Listed-placed full-sister Natasha. The family includes the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and Prix d'Astarte-winning champion Darjina (Zamindar), Polish Precedent's Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Darsi and Wootton Bassett's GIII Franklin-Simpson Stakes winner Guildsman. Unfortunately, Darkova's 2024 filly by Lope De Vega died this year.
Impressive debut 👀
Enoch (Frankel) thunders home to make a winning start, providing John & Thady Gosden and Rab Havlin with quick doubles @NewmarketRace 🚀@BoyleSports | @BritishEBF pic.twitter.com/gcxTKYiAhG
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 26, 2025
6th-Newmarket, £23,000, Mdn, 9-26, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:26.16, g/f.
ENOCH (IRE) (c, 2, Frankel {GB}–Darkova, by Maria's Mon) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $15,818. O/B-George Strawbridge; T-John & Thady Gosden.
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