Frankel covers first mare, multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Midday

The stud career of Frankel, the two-time reigning European Horse of the Year, officially began Friday when he covered his first mare, multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Midday.

Frankel, who raced as a homebred for Juddmonte Farms, retired unbeaten in 14 starts, including 10 Group 1 victories. The 5-year-old son of leading international sire Galileo is standing his initial season at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, England, for a fee of approximately $198,000.

Midday, winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, produced her first foal, a colt by Galileo, on Jan. 16 at Banstead Manor. Like Frankel, the 7-year-old Oasis Dream mare raced as a homebred for Juddmonte, winning eight stakes races, including six Grade/Group 1 events, and earning $3,438,502.

Midday's dam, the stakes-placed Kingmambo mare Midsummer, is also scheduled to be bred to Frankel this season. The stallion's star-studded first book of about 135 mares includes 60 Grade/Group 1 winners or producers.

The group's standouts include classic producer Oatsee, Kentucky's reigning broodmare of the year; 2011 Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream; Eclipse Award winners Zagora and Stacelita; Japanese champion Vodka; multiple Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi; and Grade 1 winner Balance, a half-sister to champion Zenyatta.