Frankel colt Count Octave hits right note on all-weather debut

All eyes are on Frankel to see how his first crop perform at three, and, with the British turf season yet to begin, he already has five three-year-old winners on the board.

Fashion Business was first off the mark for her sire, winning a 1m2f maiden at Lingfield in January. Next came Soul Stirring, who followed up on a Grade 1 success in Japan last year with a win in the Group 3 Tulip Sho at Hanshin this month.

Lady Frankel, a half-sister to dual French Classic winner Lope De Vega, won on debut at Saint-Cloud just over a week ago. Then, only last Friday, Musikel improved on his only previous start at Leopardstown to win a mile maiden at Newcastle.

The latest winner is Count Octave, who opened his account in the 1m4f maiden at Wolverhampton on Tuesday. He gradually wore down long-time leader Utopian Dream to score by three lengths, with Elite Icon a further 30 lengths behind in third.

Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, the three-year-old colt is a three-parts brother to Irish Derby hero Treasure Beach and half-brother to the classy Elidor. The siblings are out of the Mark Of Esteem mare Honorine, a half-sister to the 2003 Hardwicke Stakes winner Indian Creek and Group 3-placed Desert Dew.

Honorine has produced five winners from eight runners and also has a two-year-old sister to Count Octave.

Tuesday's winner holds an entry for the Derby in June.

View Tuesday's results