Count Octave made a very pleasing return to action today when running out a comfortable winner at Wolverhampton.

A Qatar Bloodstock-bred son of Frankel out of the mare Honorine making him a half-brother to Gr.1 Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach Count Octave landed a maiden by three lengths from Utopian Dream in a race which effectively became a match. Owned by Qatar Racing, he was ridden by David Probert and is trained by Andrew Balding.

Count Octave ran once as a two-year-old, finishing third at Goodwood in a maiden run in October, and he has pleased Balding throughout the winter. He holds an entry in the Gr.1 Investec Derby at Epsom, a race in which his illustrious half-brother finished second. Treasure Beach now stands at stud in Florida, and his first progeny are two-year-olds.