Frankel Colt Impresses on Debut for Juddmonte

There was no dream start for Kingman (GB)'s half brother Ferran Star (GB) in the Racing TV Maiden at Gowran June 7, but the Juddmonte operation was more than compensated by the impressive victory of another Frankel (GB) newcomer. While Ferran Star appeared green and seemingly now unlikely to become another leading light out of the magnificent Zenda (GB), the Ger Lyons-trained Licence (GB) looked an old hand in the first-choice pink cap. Always prominent under Colin Keane, the 4-5 favorite bounded to an impressive six-length triumph over an extended nine furlongs. Lyons has become a firm part of the Juddmonte order through his handling of last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Siskin and had been entrusted with Licence's year-older half sister Peace Charter (GB), a winner on her juvenile debut who placed in the Airlie Stud Balanchine Stakes (G2). They are both out of the Empire Maker mare Emollient, part of the United States arm of Juddmonte, and a sibling of several black-type performers trained by Bill Mott. Emollient was a dual surface grade 1 winner, taking the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) and Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) on dirt, and the American Oaks (G1T) and Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) on turf. "He's a massive big strong horse, so with all the time they've reaped the rewards, thankfully," Keane told Racing TV. "He's a half brother to a filly we had but a completely different animal to her. I'd say he was a horse who will get a little further, wouldn't mind a bit more ease in the ground." Licence was not the only promising-looking 3-year-old to emerge from one of the breeding powerhouses on Monday. Baaeed (GB) will have gone into plenty of trackers after making a huge amount of ground through the field in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes at Leicester and still scoring comfortably. Trained by William Haggas, the Shadwell-bred colt is a son of Sea The Stars (IRE) out of French listed-winning Kingmambo mare Aghareed, a great-great grandaughter of foundation mare Height of Fashion. Aghareed has already produced Baaeed's full brother Hukum (IRE), who won at Royal Ascot and in last year's Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (G3) before taking fifth in the Pertempts St. Leger (G1). He got back in the winning mood in a listed race at Goodwood last month.