Zayats purchase Frankel yearling in France

Zayat Stables, the owner and breeder of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, became involved with another of the great racehorses of this era last weekend, purchasing a son of unbeaten champion Frankel for 410,000 euros ($457,560) at the Arqana August yearling sale in France.

The colt, consigned by Monceaux, is a half-brother to Canadian Grade 3 winner Marbre Rose, one of the mares in American Pharoah’s first book this past spring.

Bloodstock agent Justin Casse, who signed the ticket for the Zayats, said the colt would come to the U.S. for training.

“He’ll go back to America,” Casse told Racing Post. “I thought he was the best Frankel in the sale. There’s some strong American influence in the pedigree with Unbridled’s Song” – Marbre Rose being out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Manerbe – “that was the main draw.

“Obviously, with Frankel being as hot as he is, everyone around the world knows the sire and knows how well he’s doing, he’s a pretty hot commodity right now,” Casse added. “I may not be the authority on Frankels, but from what I’ve seen, they seem to be mare-dominant so far as their looks. Unbridled’s Song himself is a beautiful specimen, and I see a lot of Unbridled’s Song in this horse.”

Frankel, twice honored as Europe’s Horse of the Year, stands at owner-breeder Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in England. He is represented by 10 winners from his first crop, led by Group 3 winner Fair Eva, Group 3-placed Cunco and Queen Kindly, and stakes-placed Frankuus.

Zenyatta’s full brother wins

De Coronado, a full brother to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, made his second career start a winning one Sunday at Dundalk in Ireland.

The 3-year-old Street Cry colt, trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore team, had finished unplaced in his first outing last month. Coolmore privately purchased his dam, the late Kris S. mare Vertigineux, in 2008, and De Coronado was her final foal; she died in 2014.

Vertigineux is now the dam of six winners from seven starters. In addition to Hall of Famer Zenyatta, she produced Grade 1 winner Balance and stakes winner Where’s Bailey.

Vertigineux’s daughters are also beginning to produce as broodmares. Where’s Bailey is the dam of She’s Not Here, the two-time winner of the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar. The unplaced Treasure Trail is the dam of Long Island Sound, who is Group 3-placed in Europe and was a close second last Saturday in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park.