Full brothers Frankel, Noble Mission sire Breeders' Cup winners

In a unique family accomplishment, full brothers Frankel and Noble Mission, both European champions, each sired a Breeders’ Cup winner last Saturday on the Santa Anita turf.

Unbeaten two-time European Horse of the Year Frankel has been an international sensation for owner-breeder Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in England, with Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista, Epsom Derby winner Adayar, and Irish Derby winner Westover among his 95 career graded/group stakes winners, including champions in four countries.

Despite that, Frankel had yet to record a Breeders’ Cup winner in his stud career that began in 2013, until Saturday. His daughter Inspiral, already a multiple Group 1 winner, charged through the stretch to capture the Filly and Mare Turf.

Later in the evening, Frankel’s less-heralded younger brother Noble Mission – both by Galileo and out of the Danehill mare Kind – scored his own Breeders’ Cup winner, with Nobals winning the Turf Sprint. The gelding is the second U.S. Grade 1 winner for the stallion, joining the late Code of Honor.

Noble Mission, the Cartier Award champion European older horse of 2014, began his stud career at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky before moving to Japan beginning with the 2021 season. Showing further demand for this line in that country, both Adayar and Westover will stand in Japan in 2024.

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