Rosemont agrees deal for Frankel’s three-parts brother Maximal

Rosemont Stud has partnered with Juddmonte Farms after securing a deal to race in Australia the high-class three-year-old colt Maximal, a Galileo three-quarter brother to champion racehorse and stallion Frankel.

Speaking to ANZ Bloodstock News, Rosemont Stud principal Anthony Mithen confirmed contracts had been exchanged and the horse would now resume his racing career down under, where he will be targeted at either the A$7.5 million (£4m/€4.65m) Golden Eagle in Sydney or the Cantala Stakes at Flemington, with the hope he makes into a stallion prospect for the Geelong-based stud.

“We’re unbelievably excited to partner with Juddmonte,” said Mithen. “I believe it’s the first colt/stallion prospect that they have partnered with, certainly in Australia.

“To be bestowed the honour of partnering with them in no less than the three-quarter brother to Frankel, who has some of the best three-year-old form of the season, is quite a privilege and an honour.

“We’re excited to get the horse here and see what we can do with him on Australian soil. Our options will be the Group 1 Cantala or the same day is the Golden Eagle.

“We’ve got some thinking to do and weather forecasts to look at and travel conditions for him before we make a decision there. But first things first, we’ll get him into quarantine and get him out here.”

Rosemont Stud's Anthony Mithen has been buoyed by Frankel's success in AustraliaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Out of Joyeuse, a multiple stakes-winning half-sister to the great Frankel, the son of Galileo brings to Australia bloodlines from some of the most potent Juddmonte pedigrees, with the colt also a half-brother to stakes-placed juvenile Jovial and the Group 1-placed Jubiloso, with Mithen buoyed by the success of Frankel in Australia this season, which has seen him deliver three Group 1 winners.

“There’s no better stallion in my lifetime than Galileo, and I think his son Frankel is on the way to perhaps emulating him, so it’s quite extraordinary to have a horse even in that realm,” he said.

“To throw in the mix Galileo, Frankel, Juddmonte and little old Rosemont is quite humbling.”

In addition to his blueblooded pedigree, the colt brings some of the most exciting three-year-old form in Europe that has seen him place second behind Baaeed, winner of Friday’s Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood, and trail just a length behind subsequent dual Group 1 winner Hurricane Lane, who most recently claimed the Grand Prix de Paris by a dominant six lengths.

He also finished fourth in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race won by Poetic Flare, coming home three-quarters of a length adrift of Yulong’s new stallion recruit Lucky Vega, who ran second.

“He was seen as a Derby prospect in his three-year-old season and for him to run so close to Hurricane Lane, who’s gone on to win two Group 1s including a Derby in Ireland, was just incredible,” said Mithen.

“He’s probably proven that a mile to 2,000 metres is probably going to be his pet distance. I think with his racing style and firm ground, Australia should appeal to him.”

John O'Shea: will train Maximal for the partnershipCredit: Vince Caligiuri

Rosemont will link up with Randwick trainer John O’Shea to race the colt, who also prepares sisters All Saints Eve and All Hallows Eve for the Victorian operation, in conjunction with Waikato Stud.

“I’ve got to give a lot of credit to John O’Shea and [assistant trainer] Tom Charlton,” said Mithen.

“Those two have been scouring European races and keeping their eyes peeled for any sort of opportunity and there was just a hint that this horse might be available.

“We’re strong supporters of John’s stable and I’m thankful that he rang me first and said, ‘Would you like to put our heads together and come up with a scenario that might fit?'"

Although possessing eye-catching form, Maximal is yet to break through at stakes level for Sir Michael Stoute, with just a five-length win of a novice race at Sandown as a two-year-old to his name from eight starts, which includes a further five second-placed finishes.

However, Mithen is hoping he can claim that all important black-type success before taking his position on the Rosemont roster in the future.

“We hope he becomes a Group 1 horse here and see where that takes us in terms of a stud career to follow,” continued Mithen.

“Obviously we need to tick a few boxes before we get down that track but it’s nice to have him secured if indeed he does go on to become a Group 1 galloper here in Australia.”

General manager of European Racing, Barry Mahon, said Juddmonte were excited to see their silks take in some of Australia’s most prestigious races.

“Juddmonte are extremely excited about sending Maximal to Australia to continue racing in partnership with Rosemont Stud,” he said.

“Rosemont, like Juddmonte, run a top class breeding and racing operation out of Victoria and they have enjoyed enormous success throughout Australia.

“Juddmonte have enjoyed some success in the past few seasons in Australia and that has spurred us on to try to increase our racing presence there. John O’Shea is a top class trainer and we are delighted he will be taking charge of the colt.”

Subscribe to make sure you never miss updates from Australia, New Zealand and beyond and to have ANZ Bloodstock delivered to your inbox every day