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.

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