Frankel set to run in Ascot’s Champion Stakes / Frankel alle Champion Stakes di Ascot

Frankel comes home in splendid isolation in the Sussex Stakes

Frankel: will bid to make it 14 wins from 14 runs in the Champion Stakes

PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos), BY TOM KERR 11:47AM 31 AUG 2012

FRANKEL looks likely to bring his remarkable racing career to a close in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20 after connections announced that would be his next race.

The news that the unbeaten star will target Britain’s premier middle distance race effectively rules out any possibility he will run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which falls on October 7.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to the colt’s owner, said: “Following discussions with Sir Henry Cecil, Prince Khalid has decided that Frankel’s next race will be the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20.”

Following Frankel’s demolition of his rivals in the Juddmonte International, his first attempt at a trip over 1m, speculation grew that he could make a surprise bid for Arc glory and bookmakers priced him up at as short as 1-4 with a run.

The Prix du Moulin, over a mile, was another potential target.

However, the 1m2f Champion Stakes, which is the centrepiece of British Champions Day, was always by far the most likely race for Frankel.

The news that he will target the race will be a huge relief to organisers of British Champions Day, which is in only its second year of existence and is guaranteed considerable public and media interest thanks to Frankel’s involvement.

With retirement to the breeding shed beckoning, his appearance at Ascot is thought likely to be his racing farewell.

There seems little doubt that Frankel will achieve another victory to bring his record to 14 wins from 14 appearances – Paddy Power make him just 1-10 to be victorious at Ascot.

4:10 p.m. (eng. time) Ascot, SAT 20 OCT 2012 

QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES (BRITISH CHAMPIONS MIDDLE DISTANCE) (GROUP 1) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) 

1m2f Number of runners: 46

NO. DRAW HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER RTF% JOCKEY OR TS RPR
412-41 Akeed Mofeed76 3 8-12 John M Oxx — 111 130
21313 Ashkiyr66  3 8-12 A De Royer-Dupre — 82 128
3-1345 Astrology112  3 8-12 A P O´Brien — 125 134
14111 Bayrir63  3 8-12 A De Royer-Dupre — 116 130
111-65 Beaten Up140  4 9-3 William Haggas 117 121 132
05422 Born To Sea69  3 8-12 John M Oxx — 123 134
8-4645 Bullet Train59 5 9-3 Sir Henry Cecil 108 119 124
11-111 Camelot112 3 8-12 A P O´Brien 124 136 144
34-124 Carlton House91  4 9-3 Sir Michael Stoute 119 111 133
5-2112 Cirrus Des Aigles146  6 9-3 Mme C Barande-Barbe — 121 141
0-1P48 Daddy Long Legs63  3 8-12 A P O´Brien — 72 127
11- Declaration Of War309 3 8-12 A P O´Brien — — 117
19-120 Ektihaam139  3 8-12 Roger Varian 113 124 133
2-1221 Excelebration69 4 9-3 A P O´Brien — 125 138
13222 Farhh59 4 9-3 Saeed Bin Suroor 122 133 137
1-1111 Frankel59  4 9-3 Sir Henry Cecil 140 147 153
721533 Gabrial70 3 8-12 Richard Fahey 108 116 126
1-1216 Giofra62  4 9-0 A De Royer-Dupre — 120 132
3-1927 Golden Lilac69  4 9-0 A Fabre — 116 133
1-181 Imperial Monarch98  3 8-12 A P O´Brien — 122 134
11162 Izzi Top62  4 9-0 John Gosden 115 101 132
11342 Jet Away70  5 9-3 Sir Henry Cecil 112 100 127
11-114 Kesampour139  3 8-12 M Delzangles — 123 133
11136 Light Heavy72  3 8-12 J S Bolger — 110 129
23318 Master Of Hounds203 4 9-3 William Haggas — 102 126
11-355 Maybe99  3 8-9 A P O´Brien 107 109 127
6-4211 Meandre90  4 9-3 A Fabre — 115 133
13-418 Monterosso105  5 9-3 Mahmood Al Zarooni 122 67 72
115-12 Nathaniel91  4 9-3 John Gosden 126 134 138
12821- Parish Hall378 3 8-12 J S Bolger — — —
1-4711 Pastorius83  3 8-12 Mario Hofer — — 138
12-010 Power123  3 8-12 A P O´Brien — 78 132
8-1113 Princess Highway90  3 8-9 D K Weld — 125 137
0-3744 Reliable Man91  4 9-3 A De Royer-Dupre 122 122 135
381-13 Requisition65 3 8-12 A P O´Brien — 106 124
1115 Ridasiyna60  3 8-9 M Delzangles — 109 130
2-7005 Rio De La Plata56  7 9-3 Saeed Bin Suroor 118 76 130
436008 Robin Hood59  4 9-3 A P O´Brien 99 77 112
100-22 Sagramor70  4 9-3 Hughie Morrison 112 94 122
21141 Saonois139  3 8-12 J-P Gauvin — 127 134
2331-1 Snow Fairy62  5 9-0 Ed Dunlop 121 94 133
165716 Sri Putra59  6 9-3 Roger Varian 116 115 129
22133 St Nicholas Abbey59 5 9-3 A P O´Brien 124 132 138
413212 The Fugue58  3 8-9 John Gosden 116 119 137
49546 Treasure Beach63  4 9-3 A P O´Brien — 115 130
52113 Warwick Avenue69  3 8-12 A P O´Brien — 87 112

ODDS COMPARISON LATEST SHOWS
20:54:28
FRANKEL 1/101,  CIRRUS DES AIGLES  7,  NATHANIEL 7,  EXCELEBRATION 14,  FARHH 20,  CARLTON HOUSE 33,  ST NICHOLAS ABBEY 33,  BORN TO SEA 40.
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