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| Queen Anne Stakes 2012 |
Frankel Frighteningly Phenomenal in Queen Anne Stakes
19/06/12
1 Frankel 1/10 Fav
2 Excelebration 5/1
3 Side Glance 33/1
11 ran Distances: 11l, nk, 1l
TIME 1m 37.85s (fast by 1.15s)
The world’s best racehorse Frankel put 11 lengths between himself and his 10 rivals to open Royal Ascot on a brilliant note as he stormed away with the Queen Anne Stakes.
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Trainer Sir Henry Cecil admitted the Galileo colt was still improving but felt that those watching - rather than himself - should assess the breathtaking performance.
“It’s a relief. Things have got to go right and no horse is a certainty. He is a great, great horse and you needn’t ask me about him - you have seen him for yourselves so everyone can form their own opinions. I prepared him as well as I could and he couldn’t have done any more so you be the judges,” said Cecil.
“I don’t understand the comparisons between different countries, generations and distances and how people say one horse is 1lb better than another. It’s double dutch to me. People have seen him and can judge for themselves.
“I’ve been lucky to have trained a lot of good horses like Wollow, Bolkinski, Bosra Sham and Kris and I have my view where they would have finished in a race together but people can decide themselves.
“Black Caviar and Frankel are both champions in their own right over different distances and exceptional. You can’t compare them and it makes no sense to race one against another. Well done to both of them and they are good for racing around the world.
“You have to unleash Frankel in good time and then gallop the others into the ground. He’s got that long stride and I wanted him produced between two and two and a half furlongs because he takes some catching. He keeps going when other horses don’t.
“He did exactly what I thought he would but he is still improving and Tom said he is getting better. He looks as though he is going to stay a mile and a quarter and we will leave our options open. He is in the Eclipse, the Sussex, the Juddmonte - which is important - and he will be in the two races here at the end of the year. He could have three more race or he could have four.
“I would think he will go stud at the end of this year and it would be entirely up to the Prince (Khalid Abdulla) if he wanted to keep him in training at five but I think it’s unlikely.
“If the horse wants to go to Sandown (for the Eclipse) I’ll go and if he doesn’t I won’t. He’s telling me he’s getting better, it’s just a case of how he takes the race. We will feel our way and he will tell me what to do - I don’t tell him, he will tell me what to do next. I will discuss it with Teddy Grimthorpe but the ultimate decision will be the Prince’s.
“He’s getting stronger and learning to race properly and he’ll definitely get a mile and a quarter, it’s just a matter of when we go - whether it’s in the Juddmonte or earlier.
“It was a pretty good run at Newbury last time given he’d had 10 days off beforehand and he always improves for a run.
“This is very good for everybody and the horse has been a great help to me. He has a lot of followers and it would have been sad if he’d got beaten. People from outside racing have latched on to him. My staff have also been marvellous and this is a team effort, I just steer the ship and sail the boat.
“I think the horse enjoyed himself this afternoon and she will have said to himself that this has been a good day.”
Queen Anne Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1) (Str)
Going: Good to Soft
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
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1 |
Frankel Sir H R A Cecil |
T P Queally 9st 0lbs |
1 - 10 Winner |
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2 |
Excelebration A P O'Brien |
J P O'Brien 9st 0lbs |
5 - 1 11 lengths |
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3 |
Side Glance A M Balding |
J Fortune 9st 0lbs |
33 - 1 Neck |
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4 |
Indomito Andreas Wohler |
William Buick 9st 0lbs |
50 - 1 1 length |
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5 |
Windsor Palace A P O'Brien |
J A Heffernan 9st 0lbs |
100 - 1 3 lengths |
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6 |
Bullet Train Sir H R A Cecil |
I Mongan 9st 0lbs |
66 - 1 3/4 length |
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7 |
Helmet M Al Zarooni |
M Barzalona 8st 13lbs |
20 - 1 Neck |
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8 |
Premio Loco C F Wall |
G Baker 9st 0lbs |
50 - 1 1 1/2 length |
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9 |
Red Jazz C Hills |
M Hills 9st 0lbs |
50 - 1 3/4 length |
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10 |
Strong Suit R Hannon |
R Hughes 9st 0lbs |
10 - 1 1/2 length |
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11 |
Worthadd Sir Mark Prescott |
L Dettori 9st 0lbs |
20 - 1 1 1/2 length |
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EXCELEBRATION RUNNER-UP TO FRANKEL FOR A FOURTH TIME
Excelebration, who finished 11 lengths second in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes, was finishing behind Frankel for the fifth time in his career.
Excelebration’s trainer Aidan O’Brien, who described Frankel’s victory as “incredible”, said: “Excelebration has run a terrific race. He has a range of entries and when we get home we will sit down and decide where we go next.”
SIDE GLANCE CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE COURSE RECORD
Side Glance continued his excellent record over Ascot’s straight mile, finishing a neck behind Excelebration in third. The five-year-old has only finished out of the money once in seven starts at the course and trainer Andrew Balding is now aiming his charge towards British Champions Day back at Ascot in October.
Balding said: “I am delighted with Side Glance. He loves the course here and it’s good he has proved his run the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last year was all wrong. If Frankel steps up in trip, we will probably come back here for another crack at that race in the autumn.
“We could go for the Summer Mile, but that is on the round course which he doesn’t like so much.”
