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Glorious Goodwood 2012 |
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racing news /
Frankel Aiming for Second QIPCO Sussex Stakes Success
18/07/12
Frankel wowed racegoers in last season’s QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood when he stormed to a five-length victory over Europe’s leading older miler Canford Cliffs. This year he is returning to Goodwood to defend his crown in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, August 1.
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Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Frankel’s owner Khalid Abdulla, said via telephone: “Frankel is definitely going to be the horse to beat - there is no doubt about that - but he still has to put his best foot forward. However, on the best form that he has shown he is going to be superior to most animals that turn up.
“It’s good news that Godolphin will supplement Farhh. We respect him as he was unlucky at Royal Ascot and ran a super race at Sandown in the Eclipse so he is a very legitimate horse.
When asked about the best horse he has seen run at Goodwood, Lord Grimthorpe replied: “Dancing Brave was before my management time, but I certainly remember him winning at Goodwood. He won the Select Stakes as his prep for the Arc and he had a nice victory which set him up beautifully for that victory at Longchamp in early October.
“Frankel on the other hand came here last year and really wanted to do the business and I was really impressed with the way he did it, especially from the front. There was no question of Canford Cliffs doing what he didn’t want to do at any stage and I thought Frankel put in a really powerful performance. He just kept increasing and increasing and it took him a long time to pull up afterwards.
“It was one of his best performances. We have been so spoilt with Frankel as he keeps putting in these incredible performances and so in terms of calibre of horse I am very biased - I don’t think I have seen anything like Frankel before.”
BHA handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill believes Frankel would need to step up in trip to 10 furlongs and prove himself against the likes of Cirrus Des Aigles in order to achieve a record BHA rating of 142.
Grimthorpe commented: “Frankel and Cirrus Des Aigles could certainly meet at York (in the Juddmonte International) because I understand Corine (Barande-Barbe, trainer of Cirrus Des Aigles) plans to bring Cirrus Des Aigles to the Knavesmire in August, which would be fantastic.
“In terms of racing it is always terribly hard to compare the different generations and I think you can only beat what is put in front of you and do the best you can. Timeform have taken a much stronger view than the official handicappers and have rated Frankel the best ever.
“We look forward to taking on everybody and I think we are in such a lucky position with Frankel in how he has matured mentally and physically this year that we would be confident he could get a mile and a quarter, which therefore gives him the opportunity to take on different opponents.
“I always think you want to see the older generation taking on the best of the three-year-old generation which in this instance means Camelot. Quite understandably, it looks like Camelot is going to the St Leger and I don’t blame them as history is in the making there.
“Whether Frankel and Camelot would end up meeting is a matter of conjecture I think.
“After the QIPCO Sussex Stakes, I would think it would be a mile or mile and a quarter programme. Sir Henry (Cecil) is not very keen to talk about the Arc and I think Henry and Prince Khalid have always been mindful of making Frankel the best they can at what he does best.
“In terms of the Breeders’ Cup, I think we would have to see but I would say it’s unlikely. I think if he ended up in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, that would be a fitting finale. If he is going the mile and a quarter route, it’s a pity the Breeders’ Cup Classic is not on Polytrack or the all-weather surface that it was three or four years ago.
“From that point of view, I think a QIPCO Champion Stakes would be very important to Frankel if he could win one.
“I think it almost certainly be Frankel’s last year racing. I have still to talk to Prince Khalid about that, but I think Frankel has proven what he is and a lot of the horses he has been compared to have had one or two championship years whereas Frankel is in his third.
“People have got their opinion of him and in our eyes we don’t think he has got very much more to prove.”
Lord Grimthorpe also outlined Glorious Goodwood plans for some of Khalid Abdulla’s other leading horses.
Grimthorpe said: “Noble Mission has come out of Royal Ascot well and he will head to the Bet365 Gordon Stakes, while Timepiece will go for the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes.
“She has turned a corner after looking pretty disappointing earlier in the season and everyone seems much more pleased with her - she is working better and moving much better - so Sir Henry (Cecil) is very keen to go to the Nassau.”
