Frankel colt Merovee scores at Newcastle

The Chris Waller-trained Merovee has became the first progeny of undefeated champion Frankel to win in Australia.

The $1.6 million colt was ridden to success by Hugh Bowman in the XXXX Gold Maiden (1350m) at Newcastle on Tuesday.

John Singleton sent his mares More Strawberries and More Joyous to England to be served to southern hemisphere time by Frankel in his first season at stud.

He retained the More Joyous filly Woman, who has yet to race for GaiWaterhouse and Adrian Bott, while Merovee made his debut at Newcastle in March, finishing sixth over 1200m.

The only other Frankel three-year-old in Australia, the Robbie Laing-trained Frankel My Dear, was fifth on debut at Flemington on August 5.

Bowman said Merovee appreciated the rise in distance on Tuesday and would only get better with racing.

“I loved the way he dug deep over the last 100 metres because he had a fight on his hands,” Bowman told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“For an inexperienced horse, to fight like he did, was a very good sign.

“To the eye to me he still looks immature physically and he’s going to develop into a much nicer horse in time.

“I’ll leave Chris to manage him.

“He does a pretty good job of it.”

Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said there was no immediate plan for Merovee following his three-quarter length victory over the Hawkes Racing-trained Legendofoz.

“He did it tough as the race didn’t exactly go to plan,” Duckworth said.

“We’ll get him home and make sure he’s safe and sound before finding another race.

“With his high price tag we hope he can reach top level.”