Noble Mission (pink cap) comes home ahead of his rivals at Newmarket
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Frankel brother Noble Mission 20-1 for Derby
Report: Newmarket, Saturday
Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes (Listed)3yo, colts and geldings, 1m2f
THE full-brother to Frankel, Noble Mission, took a major step towards proving he shares a significant portion of the awesome ability of his famous sibling as he blitzed to victory in an important Investec Derby trial.
He was cut to 20-1 (from 25) with Paddy Power for Britain's richest race following his fine victory on theRowley Mile.
Ridden by Frankel's rider Tom Queally - the colt also shares a trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, and an owner, Khalid Abdullah, with his brother - Noble Mission was tucked away in the middle of the six runners and encountered some difficulty clearing a route through the modest-sized field.
Yet once he emerged into the clear he delivered an impressive turn of pace to overturn the unraced John Gosden colt Michelangelo, who was himself an eyecatching debutant, and Godolphin's Mariner's Cross.
"It was a funny race, as they crawled and then sprinted, and he did well to win really," said Sir Henry. "He's learning and improving, but he'll need another race before we decide where we go.
"He's in the Dante, or he could comeback here for another race later this month and the timing of that one works out well."
"It would be lovely to think he's a Derby horse or a Royal Ascot horse but there's a little way to go yet," added Sir Henry.
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