Frankel – A Horse To Watch
It seems that once in a lifetime a racehorse comes along that grabs the attention of not only the horse racing public but just about everybody else. Frankel, a bay horse with a large white star and four white feet, is just such a horse. Watching him run has been described as ‘catching a glimpse of the wind’, he moves with the grace that only a thoroughbred horse can. Those people who would like to ban horse racing should be compelled to watch this magnificent horse race, then try to justify why they would deny the world witnessing this elegant beauty in action.
Frankel is named after the late American race horse trainer Bobby Frankel, he is officially rated by Timeform as the best ever race horse with a rating of 143, owned by Prince Khalid Abdulla and trained by the incomparable Sir Henry Cecil, he was bred at Juddmonte Farms. Sired by Galileo out of sprint winner Kind, he is a distant relation on both sides of his pedigree to Northern Dancer, his jockey is Tom Queally. To date Frankel is unbeaten in eleven races, his performance in the 2000 Guineas was described as “one of the greatest displays on a British racecourse”, Frankel’s valuation as been put in excess of £100 million.
2010: Racing career started: Two Year Old Season
Frankel’s career started out quite well in a one mile race at Newmarket, the going was soft, the date was 13th August. He started slowly and Tom Queally, his jockey, held him up until they were two furlongs out. He then led inside on the final furlong and ran on to win by half a length from John Gosden’s future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Nathaniel. His next race was over 7 furlongs at Doncaster, once again ridden by Tom Queally, he won by thirteen lengths.
Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes, 25th September at Ascot, in a field littered with class horses he romped home to win by ten lengths.
Dewhurst Stakes was Frankel’s move up to Group 1 level, billed as the two year old ‘race of the century’ which included Dream Ahead and Saamidd, two unbeaten top rated horses in the field. Queally held Frankel back until taking the lead a furlong from home, he won by 2 and 1/4 lengths.
2011: Three-Year-Old Season
Greenham Stakes, once again Frankel won in style from Excelebration, one of the top rated horses.
2,000 Guineas Stakes 30th April, Frankel started as favourite and a change of tactics saw him race straight into the lead, he won by 6 lengths in a race described as ‘barely believable’.
St James’s Palace Stakes Royal Ascot on 14th June, pace maker Rerouted, set a break neck pace, Frankel had to go after the leader with 2 furlongs to go, he held a six length lead, however Zoffany began to gain ground and Frankel just won.
Sussex Stakes 27 July at Goodwood, the race was billed as the ‘Duel on the Downs’ and Frankel won by five lengths beating top rated Canford Cliffs. Following this race the British Horseracing Authority upped Frankel’s official rating from 130 to 135, he is now officially the best racehorse in the world.
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Frankel won by 4 lengths.
2012: Four-Year-Old Season
Lockinge Stakes 19 May, Frankel makes his first appearance of the year, also racing this day was Excelebration, who had the advantage of race fitness. Frankel stayed ahead of Excelebration in the race, moving into the lead two furlongs from the finish, then pulled clear to win by five lengths.
Queen Anne Stakes, starting at odds of 1/10 at Royal Ascot against a field which included Excelebration and Strong Suit, respectively ranked the equal second and the equal fifth best three-year-old colts in the world. Frankel took the lead three furlongs from the finish and drew steadily clear to win by eleven lengths.
Frankel’s Jockey.
Thomas P. Queally was born on 8th October 1984 in Modeligo, Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland. The son of Declan Queally, who trains a small string of thoroughbreds in County Waterford, he earned his first win on April 13, 2000 at Ireland’s Clonmel Racecourse. The young Thomas was a southern area pony racing champion in Ireland, aged 15 he recorded his first win as a jockey on Larifaari at Clonmel on 13th April 2000. Apprenticed to the yard of Pat Flynn, Queally was crowned Irish Champion Apprentice Jockey in 2000, he had 28 winners in his first year. Though never under contract as a stable jockey, Queally became first jockey to Cecil in 2009, winning three Group 1 races for the trainer that season.
Frankel’s Trainer.
Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil, born 11 January 1943 is acknowledged as one of the greatest trainers to have ever graced the turf. 10 times Champion Trainer, up to June 2012 he has trained 25 domestic Classic winners, including four winners of the Epsom Derby, eight winners of the Epsom Oaks and at least two winners of 1,000 Guineas, the 2,000 Guineas and the St. Leger Stakes.
