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Superstar Frankel Storms the Lockinge Stakes
19/05/12

1 Frankel 2/7F
2 Excelebration 100/30
3 Dubawi Gold 16/1
NR: Strong Suit (USA)
6 ran Distances: 5l, 4l, 3l
TIME 1m 38.14s (slow by 2.54s)

Sir Henry Cecil's superhorse Frankel made it a perfect 10 when putting up a typically brilliant performance to win the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on his first start of the campaign.

Frankel
© Racehorse Photos

Ridden by Tom Queally, the four-year-old demolished the opposition in the one-mile feature with his usual aplomb after being sent off the 2-7 favourite.

Second for much of the way behind pacemaker Bullet Train, he eased to the front in the final quarter-mile and supporters never had an anxious moment as he swept to an effortless victory by five lengths from old rival Excelebration, with Dubawi Gold in third.

Queally said: "It's a great relief he's come back. It's great to be on board. He's grown up from last year, he's thicker set. If you look at him now, he's the real deal - he's filled out since last year. He showed that burst of acceleration. He's not like anything I've sat on before."

Cecil added: "He always takes a little bit of a hold, but he quickened up so well. The first race is never his best race, he always improves for the race. He's done everything right considering he was sidelined.

"He's in the two (Queen Anne Stakes and the Prince Of Wales's Stakes) at Ascot and we'll take it step by step. I'm delighted for the Prince (Khalid Abdullah) and the staff. It was nice."

JLT Lockinge Stakes (Group 1)
£175,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places