First runner for Cracksman as Lahina Bay debuts at Bath on Thursday

Darley sire and dual Champion Stakes winner Cracksman is the latest first-season stallion to have his debut runner when Lahina Bay contests the restricted novice stakes at Bath (4.55) on Thursday.

A winner at two himself when defeating a field at Newmarket that included Stradivarius, Cracksman won Epsom's Derby Trial before two near misses in the English and Irish Derbys, going down by a length and a neck respectively to Wings Of Eagles and Capri.

Following on from two easy wins in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and Prix Niel, the Anthony Oppenheimer-bred colt became Frankel's first European Group 1 winner with a seven-length victory in the Champion Stakes, and he was crowned champion three-year-old colt in Europe that year.

At four he won on his seasonal reappearance in the Prix Ganay before following up in the Coronation Cup, despite banging his head in the stalls, while he made up for a defeat in the Prince of Wales's Stakes with a second impressive Champion Stakes win, this time defeating the likes of Crystal Ocean, Capri and Rhododendron.

He retired to Dalham Hall Stud for the 2019 season at a fee of £25,000, having been crowned joint-world champion alongside Australian wondermare Winx.

Cracksman at Dalham HallCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Mountarmstrong Stud-bred Lahina Bay is the first foal out of the unraced Kodiac mare Serendipitously, who is closely related to two speedy winners in Bogini and Dragon King, as well as being a half-sister to Listed scorer Alkasser.

The quartet are out of Alexander Queen, a five furlong-winning half-sister to high-class sprinter and top-level-winning sire Dandy Man, as well as Queen Mary Stakes winner and Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Anthem Alexander.

The John Bridger-trained Lahina Bay was picked up for 5,000gns by owners Mr and Mrs Finch from Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

She is set to face ten rivals including Clear To Land, a Dragon Pulse filly out of a winning close relation to Listed winner and Nunthorpe Stakes second Que Amoro, Whistle And Flute, a son of Dandy Man out of an unraced half-sister to Group 2 winner Agnes Stewart, and Mintana, who is by another freshman sire in Havana Grey and a half-sister to the speedy Kick On Kick On.

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