Fretta (AUS)
Fretta (AUS)
O: Oti Racing (Mgrs: T Henderson & S Driscoll), Mangan Racing, Brat Pack, Fracca Stables, Speriamo Bloodstock, R Smith, L Webb, Ms D McKeown, J & Mrs J Spence, R Menchise, J Gurrieri & Uthmeyer Racing
T: Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr
S: Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 V: Hazelwood Bloodstock P: Blandford Bloodstock, £220,000
W: Tile Importer Maiden Plate (1500m), Sandown-Lakeside, December 21
Champion UK sire Frankel (Galileo) sired a debut northern hemisphere-bred winner at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday as the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Fretta produced an impressive performance to score over 1500 metres.
Prior to her debut, the juvenile filly had made two promising jump-outs at Cranbourne, finishing fifth and third in 1000-metre and 1200-metre contests respectively.
Ridden on Wednesday by Jamie Kah, Fretta was slowly away from her inside barrier and briefly sat last in the ten-runner field before moving up to fifth along the rail. Travelling well coming into the closing stages, she hit the front at the 300-metre mark and powered clear to beat Choquant (Shocking) by three and a half lengths with Hanibal Hero (The Brothers War) finishing a further half-length back in third.
“She’s a gorgeous filly, a really elegant staying type that’s got a bit of speed,” Kent Jnr told RSN927.
“She just missed the start at her last jump-out and she worked home very smartly, so barrier one is probably the last barrier we wanted to draw.
“Lakeside on good ground, knowing how that might play out, she might be in a bit of a difficult spot, but she’s one to follow.
“I’m not saying she can’t win, but she needs to get things right on debut and, bear in mind, she is six months behind.
“She’s essentially a two-year-old and she’s up against some of these horses who are four and they’ve had a bit of experience and seasoning.”
Fretta was purchased for £220,000 (approx. AU$394,220) by Blandford Bloodstock for OTI Racing at Book 2 of last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Out of the South African Group 1-placed Group 2-winning mare Alderry (Al Mufti), she is a half-sister to South African Group 1 winner Al Sahem (Silvano), Group 1-placed winner Al Mutawakel (Silvano) and Listed winner Seehaam (Vercingetorix).