Frankel has been making big news in Australia this season siring three Group I winners – Converge, Hungry Heart and Mirage Dancer – and he was in the frame at Royal Ascot overnight with a three year-old colt that may well progress to being a Group I winner.
Carrying the famed Shadwell colours, the William Haggas trained colt Mohaafeth is unbeaten this year winning two races in lesser grade before claiming a Listed victory at Newmarket to earn his place at Royal Ascot.
Ridden by Jim Crowley, Mohaafeth cruised to a length and three quarter win in the Group III Hampton Court Stakes (1m2f) and has now won four of six starts.
Scratched from the Epsom Derby due to wet ground and questions about his stamina, Mohaafeth gained consolation with this success.
“I was always concerned about the trip in the Derby, but there's only one of them. Then it rained and, for me, it became an easy decision not to run but that's history now,” said William Haggas.
“He's won a Listed and a Group 3 but he's not run against the older horses yet so he's got a lot to prove but I think he's got some talent.
“I think he's pretty good, I don't make comparisons with others, but he's always been a nice horse and I thought he looked great today. He's in the Eclipse and he's in lots of things and will continue to be. We'll see where we go but that's obviously the first target if there is one.”
A 350,000 guinea Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 purchase for Shadwell, Mohaafeth is the best of two winners from stakes-winning Sea the Stars mare French Dressing.
Mohaafeth has an interesting pedigree being line bred 3 x 3 to champion race mare and blue hen Urban Sea.
He is one of five stakes-winners to carry a double cross of Urban Sea, those stakes-winners including Group I winners Masar and Mac Swiney.
