Frankel's first runner from second crop digs deep to win maiden

The first runner from Frankel's second crop looked like he needed every inch of the six-furlong trip as Westerland just got up on the line in a two-year-old maiden - contested only by colts - at Leicester on Tuesday.

Trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Westerland was in midfield two furlongs out, before going in hot pursuit of the leader Hey Gaman - a New Approach colt - when finding daylight, only just getting his nose in front.

Sons of first-season sires completed the frame, with Declaration Of War's Match Maker third, and Camelot's Fighting Irish fourth.

A Juddmonte homebred, Westerland earmarked himself as a potential contender for the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, although based on his latest performance, a step up in trip could also follow.

The colt, who was having his second start after finishing a close second on his Newbury debut earlier this month, has two half-brothers at stud, a career path that might lie in store for Westerland should he continue to improve.

Showcasing was also trained by Gosden to win the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes and to finish third in the Middle Park Stakes, while Camacho was a 6f Listed winner and runner-up in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes.

The trio are out of the Listed-winning Zafonic mare Arabesque, a three-parts sister to the mile Group 2 Prix de Sandringham scorer Modern Look, and a half-sister to the top-class Foreteller, a son of Dansili who won the Rawson, Underwood and Makybe Diva Stakes in Australia, all at the highest level.

Another half-sister Photographic was responsible for the recent Musidora Stakes scorer Shutter Speed.

They are out of the 1993 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Prophecy, who also raced in the colours of Khalid Abdullah, and who - like Westerland and Showcasing - was trained by John Gosden.

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