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Frankel
East Coast Racing
Chris
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Have to agree, I imagine the pacemaker owners would get a cut of Frankel's winnings? That bullet thing has gone ballistic out in front, also blocked the second fave, but regardless they weren't going to beat the winner.
Thanks tony - knew they were the same colours, wasn't sure if they were the same owner. That pacemaker will come out and win next start :lol:
The Sir Henry Cecil-trained superstar (4/11 favourite) came home four lengths clear of Excelebration (6/1) while French filly Immortal Verse (7/1) was third another three-and-a-half lengths adrift.
The victory rubberstamped his tag as being the best horse in the world this year while Cecil, who watched impassively from the stands as others went wild, will believe even more firmly that he is the best he has ever seen.
Once Frankel's jockey Tom Queally took the lead there was little doubt as to him adding a fifth Group One win to his tally and gave 68-year-old Cecil only his second win in the race and Queally his 15th Group One success.
"He's a horse in a lifetime," Queally told the BBC.
"He's more professional with age, the real deal.
"I let him go when he allowed me too. I always enjoy winners but this one is extra special.
"Who knows what happens next year, I'm enjoying it for the moment that it is. Everyone is. I don't think I will ever ride a horse like this again.
"He's a once in a lifetime horse," added the quietly spoken Irishman.
Cecil added: "He was lovely and relaxed today. Now I'm looking forward to getting the winter over with and next season when I think he'll be suited to a mile and a quarter.
"Everything went right today, it was wonderful. I think you will see an even better horse next year.
Frankel's owner, Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah, commented: "Many think he's the best they've seen so I am lucky to have that horse."
Cecil, who was given a rousing reception as he came down to the winners circle, had opted to run a pacemaker Bullet Train and Ian Mongan dutifully took him clear into the lead early on.
Queally, though, pressed the button having moved him into second with four furlongs to go and streaked into the lead while Excelebration - trained in England by Italian Marco Botti - gave chase.
However, both his and then a late flourish by two-time Group One winner Immortal Verse never looked like seriously posing a threat as Queally had upped the pace significantly between the three and two furlong marker and then had the luxury of easing him down.
Cecil, who had spent the first three races chainsmoking down by the parade ring, graciously shook Botti's hand as he awaited his extraordinary horse to come back and then Frankel arrived to a thunderous round of applause and cheers.
Botti said that it had been worth trying their luck against such a superstar, who was beating him for the third time this season.
"What can you say my horse ran a super race as always but this horse that beat him is just out of his and the others league," he said.
Frankel is an absolute machine.
Best sprinter/miler in the UK - yes, Europe - probably. But we all know sprinters are not their forte.
Let's see him go to the US Breeders Cup or HK mile or the Global Sprint Challenge series first. I'm sure he'll go well, but he hasn't proven himself the best in the world yet.
Really Black Caviar has more of a claim to world's best sprinter title.
Would be good to see Frankel, Black Caviar, Rocket Man and the best the US, HK and Japan have to offer going head to head on Dubai World Cup night.
One of the horses in Saturdays race that Frankel absolutely smashed easily beat Goldikova, the same applied to Canford Cliffs and she has beaten the best around the world over an extended period of time.
Frankel has proven himself from 1000m up to 1800m and will probably get over further before he has finished, he has also shown he can race in many different styles from leading at break neck tempo to sitting back and then making a big run and sustaining it to the finish.
Im not gonna knock Black Caviar because she is sensational but if you cant see why Frankel is Pure Class and so highly rated by anyone with even half a clue then sorry but you are missing out appreciating just how lucky you are in seeing him race.
I dont know much about times overseas because on paper it doesn't look pretty
And im not sure how frankel has proven himself from 1000-1800m. That was a stupid comment. He's proven himself at 1400-1600
Debut
Frankel began his two-year-old career on 13th August 2010 in a one mile maiden race at Newmarket on soft ground. Held up by jockey Tom Queally before making headway two furlongs out, he led inside the final furlong and ran on to beat John Gosden's future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Nathaniel by half a length.
2nd start
Next time, Frankel first hinted that he was something out of the ordinary in the Frank Whittle Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster on 10th September 2010. The horse posted an excellent speed figure despite never doing anything more than a hack canter under Queally and coasted to a 13-length success. It was at this point that the racing world began to take notice.
Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes
His next visit to the racecourse was on 24th September 2010 where he tackled Group company for the first time in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot, a race sponsored by his owner Khalid Abdulla. The race was notable for Frankel's sensational mid-race move around the home turn and the colt bounded clear to beat subsequent Horris Hill Stakes winner Klammer by an easy 10 lengths. Treasure Beach, the Epsom Derby runner-up and Irish Derby winner the following year, was beaten just under 11 lengths. After the race, Peter Scargill of The Racing Post said that "the jockey merely pushed his mount out hands and heels to win by ten lengths ? it could've easily been more".[6] Trainer Henry Cecil said: "He was very impressive. He has been ticking all the right boxes. In the last two months he has started to really improve, improve and improve".
Dewhurst Stakes
Frankel's final start of 2010 was the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on 16 October 2010, by far his biggest challenge to date.
The race - billed as the two-year-old race of the century - also featured two other unbeaten colts; Dream Ahead, 10-length winner of the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes a fortnight earlier and Saamidd, winner of Doncaster's Champagne Stakes and labelled "Pegasus" by his Godolphin stable. Frankel subsequently won the race "comfortably" by two and a quarter lengths. The runner-up, Roderic O'Connor, subsequently won the Group 1 Crit?rium International at Saint-Cloud and then the Irish 2000 Guineas as a three year-old. Frankel remained unbeaten going into winter quarters, despite his rider Queally never picking up his stick at any time. The racing world and the Cecil camp waited with eager anticipation for the sport's new superstar to re-appear in 2011.
Greenham Stakes
Frankel's prep-race for the 2000 Guineas and the first start of his three-year-old career was the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on 16th April 2011 over seven furlongs. He defeated Excelebration - who went on to win the Mehl-M?lhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) and the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp that season - by a comfortable four lengths, Frankel showing his customary turn of foot around a furlong from home. Following the race, trainer Henry Cecil insisted that the colt would improve dramatically for the outing before the Newmarket Classic.
2,000 Guineas Stakes
On 30th April 2011, Frankel was the hot favourite at odds of 1/2, the shortest-priced favourite in the race since 1974. The colt more than lived up to the lofty expectations on the Rowley Mile by delivering one of the most dominant Group One performances in racing history. He jumped straight to the lead, surprising many of the jockeys in the race, and had the horse in second place, the Frankie Dettori-ridden Casamento, off the bridle after only three furlongs. Frankel maintained a relentless gallop and his majestic, ground-devouring stride had taken him into a lead of around 15 lengths by half way. Many of the racegoers at Newmarket burst into spontaneous applause fully two furlongs from home to acclaim a new champion and, by the time he crossed the line, Frankel was still six lengths clear. The performance was described as "barely believable", while Paul Curtis of the Racing Post said afterwards that "Frankel's astonishing performance puts him firmly in the superstar status".
St James's Palace Stakes
Although he had been the long-time favourite for the Epsom Derby, doubts about his stamina meant that he did not go to Epsom to tackle racing's Blue Riband. Instead his next start was in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on 14th June 2011. In the race itself the pacemaker, Rerouted, went off at a break-neck pace and had opened up a sizeable lead by half-way. Frankel was then asked by Queally to go after him and, showing an amazing turn of foot, kicked up to him, passed him and opened up a lead of six lengths on the rest of the field with two furlongs to go. However, in the final furlongs the 20-1 shot Zoffany began to gain ground and Frankel held on by 3/4 length to win the race, despite it looking very much like the mid-race move engineered by Queally was taking its toll on the horse. Following the race, Queally received a lot of criticism from many quarters for what many saw as an ill-judged ride. Despite claims from Cecil and Queally that the horse was merely idling in front, many observers saw the race as the first time that Frankel had been exposed as having potential limitations.
Sussex Stakes
In a race viewed by many as the most eagerly awaited confrontation in years, Frankel scored a five-length victory over five-time consecutive Group 1 winner Canford Cliffs on 27 July 2011 at Goodwood. In a race billed as "The Duel on the Downs", Frankel was obliged to make the running and produced a scintillating turn of foot before the furlong pole to leave the world's top-rated older miler - who had beaten three-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner Goldikova in his previous race - trailing in his wake.
Frankel received countless accolades following his bloodless victory. His trainer Sir Henry Cecil said: "I think it's a facetious thing to say, but he's the best I've ever seen. I suppose the only ones I could compare would be Shergar and Blushing Groom at his best. I can't go back to the days of Tudor Minstrel and match races, but he's the best in my lifetime."
During the interview Cecil also said that he had expected the colt to win easily, despite having ample respect for his horse's rival Canford Cliffs.
Following Frankel's win in the Sussex Stakes, rumours abounded that Cecil would aim Frankel at the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in mid-August. The race, over a mile and a quarter, would be the first time Frankel would contest a race over that distance. However, after careful consideration with owner Prince Khalid Abdulla, Cecil announced the following day that the colt would have only one more race in 2011, in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot's QIPCO British Champions Day on October 15 2011.
As a result of his victory in the Sussex Stakes, the British Horseracing Authority raised Frankel's official rating from 130 (tied with Australian horse Black Caviar) to 135, making him officially the best racehorse in the world.
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
As was planned, Frankel lined-up in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. His presence did not scare off the opposition, with a strong eight-horse field in the race. However, Frankel was again too good, winning by 4 lengths with last-start Group 1 winners Excelebration and Immortal Verse filling the minor placings.
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Trainer Sir Henry Cecil outlined the 2012 plans for undefeated European superstar Frankel on Friday morning after working the Galileo (IRE) colt on the Newmarket turf and the itinerary probably will include a career-concluding trip to Santa Anita Park for the Breeders? Cup World Championships.
The Breeders? Cup does not appear to be on Cecil?s agenda this year, a decision based on his belief that Churchill Downs would not suit Frankel.
Considered by many to be the world?s best horse in training, Frankel would be a strong favorite in either the TVG Breeders? Cup Mile (G1) or Breeders? Cup Classic (G1). Cecil said ?the best is still to come? for Frankel, ominous news for any field he faces this year and his potential rivals for 2012.
?This horse, as time goes on, will show you what he is and you may not even have to ask me the question,? Cecil said. ?I don?t want Frankel at the Breeders? Cup this year because of the tight track; it moves to Santa Anita next year which would be better for him.
?I would love to take him to the QIPCO Champion Stakes (Eng-G1) next year and then there is a month to the Breeders? Cup, so maybe the Prince [owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms] will decide to finish him at the Breeders? Cup.?
Frankel is expected to start next in the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-G1) on October 15 at Ascot. Cecil said Frankel has improved mentally as well as physically heading into the Queen Elizabeth II and that he put regular jockey Tom Queally on the colt for Friday?s workout ?because I wanted Tom to have plenty of confidence in the horse and find out that he is actually an easier horse to ride now than he was earlier in the year.?
?Frankel is coming on very, very nicely. I gave him a nice bit of work, not a hard bit of work. Physically he has done very well; he looks a stronger horse and is growing up mentally a lot.
?He is a happy horse who used to pull a little bit. He took quite a hold as he is strong horse. Now he is far more relaxed and far easier to train than in the early days.?