Argentia another high-class prospect for Frankel after Caulfield comeback

Frankel sired his first Group winner of 2022 when his exciting daughter Argentia captured the Kevin Hayes Stakes on a glitzy card at Caulfield featuring plenty of European interest.

Boasting blue-chip breeding, the Australian-bred chestnut had been viewed as a very fine prospect when beating a field including Black Caviar's daughter Invincible Caviar last June but was found to be lame on her only other start, in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley in September.

For much of this Group 3 event she was unsighted again but Mark Zahra galvanised her from the rear of the field at the top of the straight to deliver a perfectly timed run to pass the favourite Scorched Earth close home and win by a short head.

Argentia is the product of a small but select group of mares that last year's European, British and Irish champion sire covers on southern hemisphere time.

Her dam, Princess Coup, was a distinguished performer in New Zealand who won prizes including her domestic Oaks and performed at the highest level in Australia.

She went on to realise a Magic Millions record price of A$3 million (£1,578,00/€1,885,000) when sold at the National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast in 2009.

Although her dam has not been an exceptional producer to date, Argentia made A$670,000 (£353,000/€421,000) when bought by James Harron on behalf of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds from Evergreen Stud Farm at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Frankel has already sired 20 Group 1 winners and Argentia could be set for a step up to the top level next, with options including the Australian Guineas and the Surround Stakes for connections to consider.

"She’s probably not screwed down for this and we wanted to give her a nice return," her co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com.

"She was very fresh in the yard, she was having a good sweat and we just wanted her to drag up behind them and finish off.

"She’s a very, very good filly. We’ve got some decisions to make now about where we head, and she’s got a very bright future."

Earlswood, by the late Pivotal, will be a more familiar name as he took the next race, the Group 3 TS Carlyon Cup, on his Australian debut.

When trained by Johnny Murtagh last season, the colt was a winner of two Group 3s at the Curragh and finished fourth behind Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby.

Bought by owner Glyn Davies for €160,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale, he has been transferred to the care of Maddie Raymond and got the better of a very tight tussle with Callsign Mav and the fine Cup performer Spanish Mission, who has moved from Andrew Balding to Peter Moody.

Earlswood was bred by Pivotal's owner Cheveley Park Stud and is a brother to the 2019 Chester Cup winner Making Miracles.

"Obviously, the All-Star Mile is a little bit tempting," Raymond said. "He’s sharp enough today to win here but we’ve got to get the votes.

"We’ll have a chat with Damian [Lane, jockey] and the owners. We could go to a Blamey potentially and then the All-Star Mile - take the risk of him getting in. I think he’s an ideal Australian Cup candidate."

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