Juddmonte Farm’s Frankel has had an amazingly successful year in 2021 finishing as the Champion Sire for GB and Ireland for the first time and adding a new stakes-winner to his tally at Caulfield on Saturday when talented mare Steinem (GB) took out the Group III MRC Summoned Stakes (1600m).
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Steinem won her first two starts earlier this year and was unlucky when unplaced as favourite in the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks.
Second to Colette in the Group II MRC Tristarc Stakes two starts ago, she got too far back in the Group I VRC Empire Rose Stakes when finishing ninth, but was ridden more positively for this assignment.
Steinem was always in contention for Jye McNiel and fought hard to the line to edge out Quantum Mechanic and win by a short head taking her overall record to three wins from eight starts with prizemoney topping $263,000.
“It’s great for Darren Dance and a lot of the owners are in the mother as well Thai Noon, so it’s a great result,”said Ciaron Maher.
“She’s a very valuable mare being by Frankel. It’s a big relief.”
A $400,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Esker Lodge draft for Ciaron Maher Racing, Steinem runs for a syndicate that includes her breeders Darren Dance of Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock and Frank Cook’s Mystery Downs in whose colours she runs.
Foaled in the UK, Steinem is the first foal of Thai Noon (IRE), a winning Dansili daughter of stakes-winner Alsace Lorraine, a grand-daughter of Champion French 2YO Filly Miss Tahiti, the dam of Group I Newmarket Thousand Guineas winner Miss France, who is also by Dansili.
Thai Noon has a yearling filly by Pierro, but no foal this spring after having a year off in 2020.
The pedigree of Steinem is an interesting one featuring double crosses of two champion sires in Danehill and Sadler’s Wells.
Steinem is the 83rd stakes-winner overall for Frankel and is his 28th stakes-winner this year, the champion son of Galileo enjoying astonishing success with his 2021 honour roll headed by eight Group I winners highlighted by Epsom Derby winner Adayar and Irish Debry winner Hurricane Lane.
Frankel stands at Juddmonte Farm at a fee of £200,000.
