Big Day for Frankel - Hungry Heart Captures ATC Australian Oaks

Mark Smith - Saturday April 17

Shortly after the two-year-old Frankel gelding Converge opened his stakes account in the Listed Fernhill Hcp, Frankel’s star three-year-old daughter Hungry Heart added a second Group 1 to her CV with a dominant performance in the $1million ATC The Star Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.

Kerrin McEvoy's smile tells the story (image Steve Hart)

The winner of the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) a fortnight back, the Chris Waller-trained chestnut came with a well-timed finish under Kerrin McEvoy to defeat the Shamus Award filly Duais by one and a quarter lengths with the Ocean Park filly Bargain a short-neck back in third.

The elegant daughter of Frankel advanced her record to four wins and four seconds from 12 starts with earnings of $1,547,700.

“She is very special. As we said after her first Group 1 win a few weeks back. the international stage is what racing’s all about,” Waller said.

“People are recognising Australian racing for all the right reasons during Covid and when you’ve got a Frankel filly winning the Australian Oaks, I think it’s pretty special.

Advertisement

“She backed up that good run two weeks ago and it’s a good advertisement for our system. We had her running in the Golden Slipper, and now she’s running at the extreme distance (2400m) for a three-year-old filly, so thanks to my team and obviously a great ride by Kerrin McEvoy.

“she’s just matured with age. As a two-year-old she used to get on her toes and be a bit bubbly as you’d expect a young filly to be. As a three-year-old now, only 12 months later she’s really matured into a relaxed beautiful horse to work with.”

Purchased by Belmont Bloodstock Agency for $300,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Hungry Heart races in the colours of her breeder, Yulong Investments.

Hungry Heart is the first foal of her dam Harlech (GB), who Godolphin sold off after failing at her only start in England.

Hungry Heart a $300,000 Magic Millions Yearling

A daughter of the excellent broodmare sire Pivotal, Harlech (GB) was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock / Yulong Investments for $60,000 gns out of the Godolphin draft at Tattersalls. Put in foal to Frankel (GB) to southern hemisphere time, Harlech (GB) landed in Australia in January 2017.

Harlech (GB) is a half-sister to the Group II-placed Maamora (Dubawi) out of the stakes-winning Azamour mare Zoowraa, from the family of the Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes winner Risen Star.

Yulong consigned a Snitzel half-sister to Hungry Heart to the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale but took her home when bidding fell short of her $650,000 reserve.

Not covered in 2019, Harlech (GB) visited Alabama Express last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Australian Oaks Gr1 2400m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 2:33.58
1
Hungry Heart
- 3f Frankel (GB) x Harlech (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
2
1.3
Duais
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 56
3
1.5
Bargain
- 3f Ocean Park (NZ) x Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
4
2.4
Amarelinha
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Hopscotch (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 56
5
2.7
Montefilia
- 3f Kermadec (NZ) x Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco (GER))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: J R Collett 56
6
3.7
Signora Nera
- 3f Sweynesse (AUS) x Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 56
7
3.9
Harmony Rose
- 3f Glass Harmonium (IRE) x Gowana (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J Parr 56
8
4.9
Land Ahoy
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Aiden Sea (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: A B Collett 56
9
7.3
Impecunious
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Sheezababe (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: D Oliver 56
10
9.3
Sassysav
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Craig Williams 56
More Reading...
Frankel's Hungry Heart Captures Phar Lap Stakes
Hungry Heart earned a legion of fans last season when she won the Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes before a fighting fifth in the Golden Slipper.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Heart Stopping Win by Hungry Heart in Vinery Stud Stakes
Yu Long Investments gorgeous homebred Frankel filly Hungry Heart overcame the track bias when coming from last to run down the brave favourite Harmony Rose in Saturday's Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Hungry Heart Brings Up a Half Century for Frankel and Earns a Spot in the Golden Slipper
Exciting Frankel (GB) filly Hungry Heart staged a last to first performance in Saturday’s $200,000 Group II Drinkwise Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick to book a spot in the $3,500,000 Group 1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 21.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.