More the merrier for Frankel

Strawberry Hill Stud owner John Singleton has booked More Joyous into Frankel for a service to southern time.

The champion mare will be accompanied to Banstead Manor Stud by Singleton’s G2 Tea Rose Stakes winner More Strawberries.  “If More Joyous is retired she will go,” Strawberry Hill spokesman Duncan Grimley said.  “We want to breed the best with the best.”

More Joyous (6m More Than Ready – Sunday Joy by Sunday Silence) was the victim of circumstances when unplaced in the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.  The mare was thrust into a narrow gap in the straight and was subsequently squeezed out the back when it closed.

She lost no admirers and will start favourite next time out in the G1 All-Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 23.  She has won 21 times in 32 starts topped by Group 1 victories in the George Main, Queen of the Turf, Doncaster Mile, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Flight Stakes in Sydney and the Toorak Hcp and Futurity Stakes in Melbourne.

Grimley wouldn’t rule out a Royal Ascot campaign for the mare when discussing her future.  “That still has to be decided,” he said.  “We have the Frankel contracts and More Joyous will go to him whether it’s this year or next.”

More Joyous is by Vinery’s champion sire More Than Ready from Singleton’s G1 Australian Oaks winner Sunday Joy.  Her dam is a half-sister to G1 winner Tuesday Joy.  Second dam Joie Denise won the G1 Queensland Oaks.