Watch as Frankel colt Rabdan romps to stunning win at Saint-Cloud

Frankel could have another top-notcher to bat for him this year judging by the stunning maiden success of one of his three-year-old sons in France on Monday.

Rabdan, a three-year-old colt bred and owned by Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Andre Fabre, had finished second on his sole previous start at Saint-Cloud in November.

Sent back to that track for his second start, he built on his strong debut to get off the mark in the Prix Amour Drake, a 1m4f maiden for three-year-old colts and geldings, by no less than nine lengths under Gregory Benoist.

Ziyad, a Wertheimer brothers-bred and owned gelding by Rock Of Gibraltar, was the distant runner-up with Matyas, another gelding by Canyon Creek, in third.

Rabdan is the third foal out of Shotgun Gulch, a daughter of Thunder Gulch who won the Grade 1 Vinery Madison Stakes over 7f at Keeneland and was sold in 2012 after her racing career to Mandore International on behalf of Al Shaqab for $1.6 million.

Al Agrab, a five-year-old son of Bernardini who is the first foal out of Shotgun Gulch, has not run, while her four-year-old colt Al Tibr, by New Approach, is a dual winner in the French provinces after being sold by Al Shaqab for just €6,000 at Osarus.

Shotgun Gulch also has a two-year-old colt by Toronado named Watan in training with Richard Hannon.

The ease of Rabdan's victory at Saint-Cloud was likely exaggerated by the soft going, but nevertheless his entries in the Prix du Jockey Club and Grand Prix de Paris do not look out of place.

Frankel's other Classic hopefuls this year include Elarqam, a Group 3-winning son of Attraction, and once-raced winners Contingent, Herculean and Without Parole.

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