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| Royal Ascot News 2011 |
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Royal Ascot Option for Brilliant Frankel
03/05/11
As the dust settles on one of the most extraordinary racecourse performances in modern times, attention turns to just where the mighty Frankel will go next following his total demolition of a high-class field in Saturday's Group 1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, writes Elliot Slater.
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Few could have imagined just how sensational Henry Cecil's colt would prove to be on the Rowley Mile, even though he came into the race having won all five outings including a very impressive success at Newbury two weeks earlier when hacking up in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes. Making every yard of the running, jockey Tom Queally clearly had a plan in his head as he sent Frankel out to a lead of four-lengths by the end of the first furlong. For any other horse that would have been a suicidal tactic, but Frankel extended his stride to draw 10-lengths clear of the field by halfway and was only idling in the closing stages having been out on his own from flag fall, finishing six-lengths clear of Dubawi Gold and Native Khan. Those following the Ascot betting will know his connections now have an interesting decision to make.
Already the Racing Post has rated the performance the best in the modern era (since they started compiling figures in 1988), and no-one who saw the Galileo colt at Newmarket will be in any doubt that he is a truly outstanding racehorse. The debate already rages as to where he will go next with the most likely options being a crack at the Epsom Derby (over an extra half mile), or staying at the Guineas trip to take in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in mid-June.
If he goes to Epsom there will be those believing he can be beaten as doubts over his stamina are raised, but if he sticks at a mile it could result in few horses being put up against him and the race cutting up to no more than a handful of runners.
