Frankel — a ticket to riches for those involved in the former champion

When it comes to rewarding investments, they don’t get much better than being involved in the former champion racehorse, Frankel. If you’re a shareholder — or breeder sending one of his progeny to the sales — you are in financial heaven.

This was highlighted again last week when a colt by Frankel — offered by Watership Down Stud — was sold to Godolphin for 2.8-million guineas at the Tattersalls October Sale in Newmarket.

The price makes the colt the most expensive yearling anywhere in the world this year.

If anyone needed proof of Frankel’s popularity it was proved when Tattersalls added up the sums. The stallion’s 25 lots grossed 18,745,000 guineas over the three days.

Tattersalls auctioneer Edmond Mahoney was obviously aware that the Frankel colt was likely to be the star of the sale and quipped: “What about a million to start?”

After signing for the colt, Godolphin’s Anthony Stroud commented: “This is one of Watership’s best families so he was the jewel in the crown. Needless to say, he’s an extremely nice horse.”

The colt’s dam, So Di Mar, won the grade 3 Musidora Stakes at York and also ran third in the grade 1 Prix de L’Opera.

Simon Marsh, GM of Watership Down, said of the Frankel colt: “He’s been an exceptional individual all his life, but these things don’t happen by accident.”

Godolphin outbid Coolmore for the top lot, but the Irish operation managed to secure a Frankel colt offered by Croom House Stud for R2.4m. Their purchase is a three-parts sibling to Broome.

Coolmore boss MV Magnier said about the stud: “Desmond Brosman is a very good breeder and we’ve had a lot of luck buying horses off him in the past. Everybody knows how well Frankel is doing at the moment, and we’ve had the two brothers before and they’re very good horses. Let’s hope this lad is as good.”

Frankel's son, Chaldean, put the cherry on top of a memorable week when taking the grade 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

Sold to Juddmonte for 550,000 guineas as a foal, Chaldean has proved a shrewd purchase with wins in the Acomb Stakes, Champagne Stakes and grade 1 Dewhurst Stakes.

After doing his familiar flying dismount, Dettori told reporters: “At the moment I’d say a mile is no problem. He’s neat and compact and handled the dip well. He’s a proper Guineas horse and they can dream now for next year.”

Winning trainer Andrew Balding commented: “The main thing is he’s so relaxed — he should go on next year so we’ve got lots to look forward to.”

A horse who certainly doesn’t fall into the relaxed category is William Haggas’ two-year-old, Garden Route, who is out of Sean Tarry’s grade 1 winning mare, Cloth Of Cloud.

After a third on debut, Garden Route, co-owned by former Investec boss Bernard Kantor, was expected to win a maiden race at York on Saturday.

However, similar to his dam who was highly strung, Garden Route was in a mulish mood and refused to enter the starting stalls. It’s back to the drawing board for this well-bred son of Galileo.