Frances Ethel has a fantastic pedigree.
Her sire Rafeef is by champion sire Redoute’s Choice, who is by the record-breaking Danehill, and Refeef is out of National Assembly racehorse and broodmare sensation National Colour, whose grandson Celestial Legend is currently the highest rated three-year-old in Australia.
Frances Ethel’s third dam You’re My Lady (Roberto) is a half-sister to Razyana (His Majesty), who is the dam of Danehill.
Frances Ethel’s dam Daphne Garland is by Fort Wood and is a sister, among others, to Bay Tree, dam of Gr 1 SA Derby winner Bouquet-Garni.
Little wonder Barry Irwin purchased her in training for his renowned Team Valor International syndicate.
Meanwhile, Winchester Mansion will go straight into the July having last run in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge, where he finished a half-a-length second to Royal Victory. Read the article in today’s newsletter about his attempt to defy 90 years of July history.
Another Crawford July entry is the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby third-placed Oriental Charm, a Vercingetorix colt.
James said, “We want to try and get him in the July, but he has quite a bit of work to do to get there. I am of the opinion he is a better horse over 1800m to 2000m plus.”
Oriental Charm is entered in the WSB 1900 and James said there is an option to go the same route as Winchester Mansion did last year by following the 1900 with the Cup Trial and the Juy, but other options are 1900, Daily News, July, or 1900, Track And Ball Derby, July.
He concluded, “He is going to have to prove he is good enough and it just depends on how he progresses through the season.”
They have also entered Pomodoro’s Jet, who is a 93 merit rated five time-winning five-year-old gelding who has never been tried beyond a mile.
The yard will have a strong hand at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting.
In the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint they will enter all of At My Command, Our Giant and Raven Black.
James said about Querari four-year-old gelding At My Command, “He hated the soft gound in the Horse Chestnut, he likes the going on top. All the races that look like the right faces are weight for age (wfa) and there are respectfully better horses than him in those races. There is the Drill Hall but what type of hiding are you going to get from the handicapper (with 131 rated Main Defender involved)? I would say he’s a better horse in handicaps than weight for age. He will be down in trip in the Golden Horse, but the Scottsville 1200m runs like a 1400m. I’m not of the opinion that he’s a miler. I’m of the opinion that he’s a 1200m 1400m horse. ”
At My Command is merit rated 119.
James said I Am Giant, who is also a four-year-old gelding by Querari, had “run a blinder” when a 0,40 length second in the Gr 2 Jehan Malherbe Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m to the crack three-year-old colt Lucky Lad.
He was raised three points to 107 and that will give him a chance of getting in to the Golden Horse.
Raven Black, a four-year-old gelding by Master Of My Fate, has won his last three starts in a five start career, but has not been seen out since October. He is only merit rated 92, so might still have a bit to do to get in.
The yard’s promising three-year-old sprinting filly Cullinan Blue (Vercingetorix) runs on Saturday carrying topweight in a handicap over 1160m, but it will be a peparation outing for the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
The Crawford’s Listed TAB Gold Bowl winner Crimson King will be going for the unofficial staying Triple Crown and having won the first leg now needs to add the Gr 3 Gold Vase and Gr 3 Gold Cup.
Two-year-old Fatal Flaw (New Predator) looks to be a promising 1400m to 1600m filly and James said she will have a Champions Season campaign.
The yard has some other promising two-year-olds whom they hope can put up their hands too.
