Frankel’s next race is likely to be the Juddmonte International at York
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos), BY JAMES BURN6:03PM 1 AUG 2012
FANS of Frankel, who cemented his status as the world’s best racehorse with another ultra-impressive performance in Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, could get an extra chance to see the superstar in action this season with connections considering a surprise tilt at the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
It would a first overseas trip for the Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt, but the race – a Group 1 over 1m on September 16 – would plug a gap between Frankel’s main targets; the Juddmonte International at York on August 22 and Ascot’s Qipco Champion Stakes on October 20.
Owner Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said after Frankel’s Sussex stroll: “There are two obvious races left for him, the Juddmonte and the Champion Stakes, but there is a gap of nearly two months between them and Henry may decide to give him a race in between, possibly something like the Prix du Moulin.
“We just want to give him the best chance to show himself as the best and if there’s a race to do that in we’ll go for it. At the moment Ascot will be his farewell.”
Frankel was 1-20 to win the Sussex – which was his 12th triumph – and is 1-16 for the International with Coral, whose spokesman David Stevens said: “If York his is next target, we do not envisage it being 13th time unlucky, and make him long odds-on for that race and indeed the Qipco Champion Stakes, as the step up in trip is unlikely to halt his progress.”
Ladbrokes go 1-4, reasoning a stiffer examination of Frankel’s talent will await at York.
“The step up to ten furlongs is the latest exciting installment in the career of the wonderhorse,” said the firm’s David Williams.
“We hope he cements his position as a great against what is likely to be a much better quality of opposition.”
HORSE/SP | AGE | WGT | TRAINER/JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
« |
13 |
Frankel 1/20F | 4 | 9-7 | Sir Henry Cecil | 140 | * | * | ||
Tom Queally | ||||||||||
« |
24 |
6 | Farhh 11/1 | 4 | 9-7 | Saeed Bin Suroor | 122 | * | * | |
Frankie Dettori | ||||||||||
« |
31 |
3¼ | Gabrial (IRE) 80/1 | 3 | 9-0 | Richard Fahey | 108 | * | * | |
Paul Hanagan | ||||||||||
« |
42 |
½ | Bullet Train 150/1 | 5 | 9-7 | Sir Henry Cecil | 111 | * | * | |
Ian Mongan | ||||||||||
1st OWNER: K Abdulla BRED: Juddmonte Farms Ltd TRAINER: Sir Henry Cecil
2nd OWNER: Godolphin
3rd OWNER: Dr Marwan Koukash
TOTE WIN £1.10; Ex £1.40; CSF £1.11
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