3 minute read

Frankel filly impresses at Sandown-Hillside.

A tilt at stakes races could lie in wait for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Steinem (4 m Frankel - Thai Noon by Dansili) as she remained unbeaten in two career starts with a win over 1600 metres at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday. 

Last seen breaking her maiden on debut over 1400 metres at Pakenham, the British-bred daughter of Frankel (Galileo) was settled at the back of the field, before sprinting clear to post a comfortable three and a half length victory over Gunmetal Girl (Proisir). Maid Of Iron (Dundeel) finished another three-quarters of a length away in third. 

Eustace said after the race the filly could now head to South Australia, with the filly likely to take in the Auraria Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) on April 17 ahead en route to a tilt in the Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) at Morphettville on May 1. 

Winning jockey Jye McNeil told Racing.com he was impressed with the way the filly quickened away from the field. 

"That felt really good the way she let down, she was a great winner at Pakenham but then to come here into Benchmark 64 city grade today was always going to be a big step, but she demolished them," he said. 

"I did have a lot of ground to make up but initially after letting down I was worried whether I got there too early, she really put them away really quickly.

"Thankfully she's switched on and smart enough to go on with it. She's a nice one for the future.

"Based on the feel and the progress she's made (from her debut) there's more improvement to come as well. She is going to get over further ground I suspect."

Bred on northern hemisphere time, Steinem was purchased by her trainers for $400,000 at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from Darren Dance's Esker Lodge draft and she is out of the winning Dansili (Danehill) mare Thai Noon. 

Thai Noon herself is out of Listed winner Alsace Lorraine (Giant's Causeway) and she is herself a daughter of Listed scorer Mer De Corail (Sadler's Wells). 

Further back this is the same family as three-time Group 1 winner Miss Tahiti (Tirol) - the dam of fellow top-flight winner Miss France (Dansili), while Miss Tahiti is also the grandam of Australian Group 3 winner Mask Of Time (Holy Roman Emperor). 

Steinem becomes the 22 winner for Juddmonte Farm-based sire Frankel in Australia and these are headed by six stakes winners, including Group 1 winner Mirage Dancer. The son of Galileo (Sadler's Wells) has six lots catalogued at next week's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.