Godolphin's Almanzor half-brother to Palace Pier set for debut in Frankel maiden

It was this time 12 years ago that the phenomenal Frankel made his first racecourse appearance and, while it is wishful thinking that any of the runners in 'his' maiden at Newmarket on Friday will emulate the unbeaten dual world champion, there are plenty with more than appealing pedigrees.

Take, for instance, Godolphin's Almanzor newcomer Castle Way. The colt is the sixth foal out of Beach Frolic and is therefore a half-brother to champion miler and now Dalham Hall Stud resident Palace Pier.

There are similarities between the pair as both sold from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, with Palace Pier selling to John Gosden for 600,000gns from the premier auction in 2016. His half-brother made 425,000gns at last year's sale, when also consigned by Highclere.

The Highclere and Floors Farming-bred colt will have plenty to live up to as Palace Pier went unbeaten in two starts at two before notching up a sequence of Group 1 successes at three and four. They included the St James's Palace Stakes, the Prix Jacques le Marois twice, the Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne.

The son of Kingman was retired for the 2022 breeding season after a close second to the brilliant and unbeaten Baaeed in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last autumn, a race he was third in the previous year. He covered a quality first book this season for a fee of £55,000.

Frankel won this Newmarket maiden 12 years ago, beating a certain NathanielCredit: Steven Cargill

Palace Pier and Castle Way are also related to the winning Invincible Spirit filly Tatweej, while Beach Frolic produced a full-sister to Palace Pier this year.

The Nayef mare, a half-sister to Dante Stakes winner and Criterium International second Bonfire, plus Ascot Group 2 scorer Joviality, sold to MV Magnier for 2,200,000gns from the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2020.

Among Castle Way's eight rivals are two fellow Godolphin-owned runners in Lenormand and Al Wasl Dream. The former, who was sixth on his debut at Newbury, is a half-brother to Australian Group 1 winner Best Of Days, while the latter is an Invincible Spirit colt out of a Dubawi half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf scorer Outstrip.

Other notable runners in the mile maiden, in which Frankel beat now fellow successful sire Nathaniel by half a length, include Ndaawi, Sultan Ali's Cracksman colt and a half-brother to Listed winner Lava Flow, the dam of Godolphin's record-breaking champion two-year-old and now sire Pinatubo; and Night Life, a once-raced daughter of Nathaniel from the family of Group 1 winner Journey. She is a homebred of Pineapple Stud.

Read more

Magnier and Brant team up to snare sale-topping Gun Runner colt for $2.3 million

Attempted theft of Altior's half-sister has breeders 'still in shock'

Dual Grade 1 winner Cyberknife to stand at Spendthrift Farm upon retirement