Exceptions to the Rule

Tara Madgwick - Monday September 17
One of the most interesting things about breeding thoroughbreds is the inconsistencies that can allow for something amazing to come out of something that on paper may be questionable.

'Breed the best to the best' is an old chestnut we hear a lot and in the case of Saturday's super impressive Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes winner Miss Fabulass it certainly looks to have paid off.

Miss Fabulass is the first Australian stakes-winner for FrankelA Champion 2YO and 3YO Filly such as Samantha Miss was always going to be a worthy mate for an undefeated champion such as Frankel, right?

Physically of course it's a good idea, a great one! but as the progeny of Frankel have started to race and win it has become apparent that those bred with a double cross of Danehill are far less successful than those bred without.

The statistics for Frankel, who is by Galileo from a daughter of Danehill, are as follows – 127 winners from 198 starters or 64.1% winners to runners. His 30 stakes-winners including four Group I winners represent 15.2% stakes-winners to runners. They are impressive stats and explain why Frankel stands at a fee of 175,000 pounds.

The statistics for Frankel offspring carrying a double cross of Danehill are as follows – 35 named foals have produced 11 winners from 22 starters or 50% winners to runners with just two of those 11 winners being stakes-winners – Miss Fabulass and the Group III winner Cunco.

Miss Fabulass has a 3 x 3 double cross of Danehill being from a daughter of Redoute's Choice, so her success has turned the theory of Frankel and his less than great results with Danehill line mares on it's head.

From limited numbers, Frankel has had seven winners from nine runners so far in Australia.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
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.
Frankel's San Remo Prepares for a Jumping Career
When a Frankel half-brother to multiple Group 1 winners Dubawi Heights and Make Believe was born at Barronstown Stud in 2014 it’s doubtful that connections were eying off a benchmark 70 over 3800 metres at Ararat, yet here we are.
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.
Frankel Colt Tops Electric Trade at Tattersalls December Foal Sale
The Frankel colt out of Simple Verse was the top price on an electric day of trade at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale selling for 600,000 guineas, one of 14 lots to sell for 300,000 guineas or more.
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.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Frankel's Miss Fabulass Returns to Form
The royally-bred Frankel mare Miss Fabulass came with a barnstorming finish to earn her second stakes win in Saturday’s Listed The Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) at Doomben.
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.