First Frankel foal sells at auction in England

The first foal by unbeaten European champion Frankel offered at public auction went through the ring on Monday at the inaugural Goffs London sale, selling with his dam to M.V. Magnier of the Coolmore partnership for 1,150,000 British pounds, or $1,951,722 in U.S. funds.

The bay colt is out of the unraced Rainbow Quest mare Crystal Gaze, whose four winners from five foals to race include French Group 2 winner Spirit Quartz. Crystal Gaze was sold back in foal to Frankel for 2015.

Bidding opened at one million pounds ($1,697,150 U.S.) for the mare and colt, and there were few bidders to increase the price before it reached its final mark.

The Frankel colt was bred in Great Britain by Qatar Bloodstock Ltd., and Tweenhills Farm Stud consigned the mare and foal as agent. The breeder is a frequent partner of Shiffield Bloodstock, which purchased Crystal Gaze for $256,175 at the 2012 Tattersalls December mixed sale.

Crystal Gaze, bred in Ireland by Ballygallon Stud, hails from the family of German Group 2 winner Passing Glance, as well as steeplechase group stakes winners Desert Quest and Stockton’s Wing.

Frankel attracted a world-class book of mares during his debut season at stud in 2013. The British-bred son of Galileo successfully impregnated 126 of the 133 mares that he covered last year, which included 38 Grade or Group 1 winners and 26 dams of Grade or Group 1 winners. Two mares fit both criteria.

A winner of all 14 of his career starts, including 10 Group 1 events, Frankel raced as a homebred for Juddmonte Farms, and earned $4,789,144. He was named Europe’s Horse of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

Frankel stands at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, England for an advertised fee of 125,000 British pounds ($212,265 U.S.).