THE best son of undefeated champion Frankel, Cracksman was also a European champion at both three and four, yet he stands at Sheikh Mohammed’s Dalham Hall Stud at the very attractive fee of only £17,500, just one tenth of the cost of sending a mare to Frankel.
Though Cracksman was not unbeaten, he won eight of his 11 starts, including four Group 1 events, and was second twice and third once in Group 1 races, for earnings of £2,793,063. There was strong demand for Cracksman’s first foals last autumn, with prices of up to 95,000gns at Newmarket.
Cracksman raced only once as a two-year-old, comfortably winning a maiden race at Newmarket. He started his next season by beating Permian in the Derby Trial Stakes at Epsom.
Having only his third outing in the Derby itself, he was a close third, beaten only a length by Wings Of Eagles, but he took his revenge on him a month later in the Irish Derby, though this time he was beaten just a neck by Capri. These were Cracksman’s only defeats in 2017.
In the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, Cracksman turned the race into a procession and came home six lengths clear, before going to Chantilly and winning the Group 2 Prix Niel by three and a half lengths. He set the seal on a remarkable season in the Group 1 Champion Stakes, romping home seven lengths ahead of top-class performers Poet’s Word and Highland Reel.
In the World Rankings Cracksman was the champion three-year-old colt on 130, with Enable on 128 and Harry Angel third on 125.
Remaining in training in 2018, Cracksman was again a world champion, sharing top spot on 130 with the brilliant Australian mare Winx and 4lbs above his closest European rival. He began by winning the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp by four lengths, and then the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom, before finishing second to Poet’s Word in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Hawkbill eight lengths away third.
Cracksman returned to his best form on his final outing in October, winning the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot for the second time, six lengths ahead of Crystal Ocean.
Cracksman is the best of the 59 blacktype winners from the first five crops of his unbeaten sire Frankel, also a winner of the Champion Stakes, as well as the 2000 Guineas and the Juddmonte International.
Cracksman is a half-brother to the Group 3 Solario Stakes hero Fantastic Moon, out of the Pivotal mare Rhadegunda, who won the Listed Prix Solitude in France.
His third dam On The House won the 1000 Guineas and this is also the family of champion and fellow Darley sire Golden Horn, winner of the Epsom Derby and the Arc de Triomphe.
CRACKSMAN (GB), Bay 2014. Champion 3yr old colt in Europe in 2017. Champion older horse in Europe in 2018. Won eight races, £2,793,063, from 1 mile to 1½ miles, 2 to 4 years including, Investec Coronation Cup, Epsom Downs, Gr.1, P.Ganay L’Inauguration de Parislongchamp, Parislongchamp, Gr.1, Qipco Champion Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1 (twice), Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes, York, Gr.2, Qatar Prix Niel, Chantilly, Gr.2, also placed second in Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Curragh, Gr.1, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, and third in Investec Derby Stakes, Epsom Downs, Gr.1.
Retired to Stud in 2019, first crop now yearlings.
Stands at: Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 9HE, England.
Contact: Dawn, Franziska, Antonin, Claudia or Lucie
Telephone: +44 (0)1638 730070
Email: hello@darley.co.uk
Web: www.darleystallions.com
Fee: £17,500