Frankel’s half-brother eyes track debut (From York Press)

Frankel’s half-brother eyes track debut

9:54am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

AS Frankel’s glittering racing career comes to an end, another star could be born as his half-brother Morpheus makes his debut.

The superstar that is Frankel is set to light up Ascot on Saturday when he makes his final racecourse appearance as he bids to maintain his remarkable unbeaten record.

Morpheus, meanwhile, makes his bow at Nottingham tomorrow afternoon on the same card as one of Frankel’s former stable-mates, First Mohican.

First Mohican apparently worked so well with Frankel in a home gallop as a two-year-old that he was nicknamed ‘Seabiscuit’ in the Warren Place yard of Sir Henry Cecil.

He won his one and only contest as a two-year-old, but a fractured knee the following season kept him off the track until Redcar a couple of weeks ago.

First Mohican reappeared in a handicap and won in very cosy fashion.

The handicapper has raised him 8lb for that win, but he is a horse capable of climbing a fair bit higher than that and he is napped to lift the Ryan’s Event Cleaning Supporting Horse Racing UK Handicap.

Morpheus makes his debut in the opening British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing Maiden Stakes.

It is anyone’s guess just what he is capable of, but all eyes will be on him all the same, given his close association with Frankel, whose presence at Ascot at the weekend has resulted in a sell-out crowd.

Whatever the outcome, it is doubtful that there will be a more electric atmosphere than the one created by Yorkshire racegoers on Knavesmire in August when Frankel was at his brilliant best in the Juddmonte International.

In the For Your Comfort DG Cars Handicap, Miliika makes plenty of appeal.

Rae Guest’s filly, a winner at Brighton in May, has finished in the money on all her four career starts and was a good fourth at Newmarket last time when beaten by only a length-and-a-half by the winner Annie Beach.

Also worth noting at Nottingham are the promising Claude Monet (2.40) and the admirably consistent Griffin Point (4.50).

Paul Hanagan will be in action at Kempton’s evening meeting where he has winning prospects aboard Alraased in the Come Jump Racing Here On Sunday Handicap.

Trained by John Dunlop, who is retiring at the end of the season, the three-year-old has twice won on this course, his latest success coming in a photo-finish last week.

He has a 6lb penalty to carry here, which will make life tougher for Alraased, but he looks a progressive sort capable of further improvement.

Mick Easterby sends Ivestar down from Sheriff Hutton to contest the betdaq.com Handicap.

The gelding resumed winning ways at Catterick last week and may be able to defy a 6lb penalty.

Also worth noting are the in-form Marford Missile (6.40) and the promising Shuruq (7.10).

 

Racing selections

Nottingham (tomorrow)
1.40 Morpheus, 2.10 Beau Select, 2.40 Claude Monet, 3.15 First Mohican (NAP), 3.45 Bentleysoysterboy, 4.20 Miliika, 4.50 Griffin Point, 5.20 Havin’ A Good Time.

Kempton (tomorrow)
5.40 Marmot Bay, 6.10 Ivestar, 6.40 Marford Missile, 7.10 Shuruq, 7.40 Reqaaba, 8.10 My Trust, 8.40 Tajamal, 9.10 Alraased.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Lingfield and Wetherby.

Today’s meetings: Huntingdon, Leicester, Newcastle (inspection, 8am today) and Wolverhampton.