Frankly Darling a new star for Frankel and Oppenheimer's Lora clan

Frankel looks to have another potential superstar on his hands after his daughter Frankly Darling stormed to an impressive success in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes for owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer during day one of Royal Ascot.

The three-year-old was taking a marked step up in class after a romp in a Newcastle maiden, but looked a filly who belonged at Group 1 level after she strode clear of Evie Stockwell's Ennistymon, a daughter of Galileo, to score by a length and three-quarters.

Her success provided Oppenheimer and trainer John Gosden with their second Ribblesdale Stakes in a row after Star Catcher's win 12 months ago.

Frankly Darling's performance on Tuesday propelled her towards the head of the Oaks betting, and she certainly possesses the bloodlines of a potential Epsom Classic winner. She is the eighth foal out of Hidden Hope, a daughter of Daylami who won the Cheshire Oaks and finished second in the Lancashire Oaks during her own racing career.

Hidden Hope has gone on to produce six winners at paddocks, including Our Obsession, a Listed-winning daughter of Shamardal and the dam of Frankel's Group 3-placed daughter Frankellina, and classy middle-distance performer First In Line, who is by New Approach.

Frankly Darling: by Frankel and from a famous Oppenheimer familyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Moreover, Hidden Hope is a half-sister to Rebecca Sharp, winner of the Coronation Stakes in 1997, and to Fleche D'Or, the dam of Oppenheimer's outstanding Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn.

These celebrities descend from Lora, who was purchased by Hascombe and Valiant Studs as a yearling for 28,000gns in 1973 and has since gone on to found her own dynasty for Oppenhemier's breeding empire.

As well as being th ancestress of the aforementioned talents, she is also the dam of 1,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner On The House, while the champion Cracksman also descends from her.

Should Frankly Darling emerge victorious in the Epsom fillies' Classic, she would supply Frankel with back-to-back Oaks winners after Anapurna struck last year.

Frankel: sire of 89 stakes performersCredit: Edward Whitaker

She is one of 89 stakes performers by Juddmonte's Banstead Manor Stud resident, who covered his eighth book of mares in 2020 at a fee of £175,000. The unbeaten son of Galileo is the sire of 41 Group winners, including ten who struck at the top level, and 12 Listed scorers.

The Frankel-Daylami cross has been represented by just six runners in Britain and Ireland but has produced five winners, with Frankly Darling far from the only high-class talent among the quintet.

Also bred along those lines are St Leger hero Logician, who is out of Scuffle, and recent 2,000 Guineas fifth Juan Elcano.

The nick could yield yet another winner at this year's Royal Ascot, as Juan Elcano is second-favourite for the Hampton Court Stakes on Wednesday, while Juddmonte homebred Collide, an older brother to Logician, is second-favourite for the Copper Horse Handicap later on day two.

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