Tag Archives: cecil

Frankel reads his Christmas cards from well wishers

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Unbeaten Frankel enjoying his first Christmas in retirement by reading cards from fans

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UPDATED:

22:46 GMT, 23 December 2012

Frankel, the world’s best racehorse, is busy getting ready for his first season as a stallion but like most of us he will enjoy a relaxing Christmas Day.

The Sir Henry Cecil-trained unbeaten colt, whose new breeding is scheduled to begin on Valentine’s Day, has been taken on a series of seven-mile walks as part of his preparations at Banstead Manor Stud, near Newmarket.

Judging by his mail-bag, he clearly remains as popular as ever. Over the last few days Frankel has been keeping a close eye on all the Christmas cards that he has received with the help of Juddmonte’s head stallion man Rob Bowley.

Season's greetings: Frankel looks at his Christmas cards with head stallion man Rob Bowley

Season's greetings: Frankel looks at his Christmas cards with head stallion man Rob Bowley

Philip Michell, Juddmonte Farms general manager, said: “Frankel touched the lives of so many people during his career and we have been inundated with emails and cards enquiring about him – not least in the lead-up to Christmas.

‘All being well, we are intending to stage a series of stud tours next summer when people can come to visit him and the other stallions at Banstead Manor and find out more about the breeding industry.

Unbeaten: Frankel wins theThe Sussex Stakes

Unbeaten: Frankel wins theThe Sussex Stakes

‘Frankel is enjoying his new life with us here and is already very much at home.’

A line of top mares are already booked in to mate with Frankel, the latest being German 2011 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream whose retirement was announced last Friday.

Frankel settling into new home at Banstead Manor Stud

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Frankel's back at start as world's greatest settles into stud where he was born

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UPDATED:

16:18 GMT, 8 November 2012

Feline fine: Frankel meets his new friend at Banstead

Feline fine: Frankel meets his new friend at Banstead

Frankel, the world's highest-rated racehorse, has begun settling into his new home after he left Sir Henry Cecil’s stable and returned to his birthplace, Banstead Manor Stud.

The Newmarket stud, just a few miles from Cecil's stable, will be where Frankel's new career as a stallion for Juddmonte Farms will start next year.

Philip Mitchell, the stud's general manager, said: 'In the foaling unit on February 11, 2008, at 11.40pm, little did we realise that we were witnessing the birth of a phenomenal racehorse.

'The rest as they say is history. And it is now extremely exciting that Frankel will be returning to the Stallion Unit at Banstead, some 500 yards from where he was born.'

Frankel is retired to stud as the winner of all 14 of his races, 10 of which came at Group One level. His glittering racing career came to end when he won the Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20.

Paying tribute to his champion, Cecil said: 'There is no doubt Frankel has been a brilliant racehorse. I am pretty certain that there has never been a better or more talented thoroughbred.

Greatest: The unbeaten Frankel has been retired to stud back at his birthplace

Greatest: The unbeaten Frankel has been retired to stud back at his birthplace

Greatest: The unbeaten Frankel has been retired to stud back at his birthplace

‘He had the speed to be a champion sprinter and then, once he grew up and settled, he got a distance with a turn of foot that makes champions.

'Today is a sad day in some ways for us as he has given us so much pleasure over the last three years. But I want to thank Frankel for so much – for being such a very special part of my training career. Thank you, Frankel.'

Frankel finale at Ascot under threat due to rain

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Rain threat to Frankel's grand finale: Racing world holds its breath ahead of Ascot spectacular

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UPDATED:

22:18 GMT, 19 October 2012

The team behind unbeaten Frankel will walk the course at Ascot on Saturday morning with fears that the world’s best racehorse may have to pull out of his 14th and final run in the 1.3million Qipco Champion Stakes.

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khaled Abdullah, said: ‘I will be guided by (trainer) Sir Henry Cecil. We would only pull out if we considered the ground unsafe.’

Wonder horse: Frankel storming to victory at Newbury earlier this year

Wonder horse: Frankel storming to victory at Newbury earlier this year

That stage had not been reached on Friday night but more rain had added heavy patches to the soft going and further showers were due.

Cecil concedes Frankel will be going into ‘no-man’s land’ if the ground is heavy in a race run in front of the Queen and a sell-out 32,000 crowd.

The concerns prompted a surge of support for Cirrus Des Aigles on Friday. An estimated 5m will be bet on Frankel, which could cost bookmakers 1m. Bookies say a Cirrus Des Aigles win might cost them twice as much.

Frankel

Frankel

Glory days: Tom Queally celebrates victory on board Frankel this year at York (left) and Newmarket (right)

Cecil has spoken about his excitement ahead of what could be a final race for his wonder horse.

Speaking to Radio 5 Live, he said: 'The adrenalin is going, we've got him so far unbeaten and I'd like him to win at Ascot. He's getting easier, he used to be difficult, used to pull a lot. He's growing up, he's like me a late developer.

One more race Sir Henry Cecil would dearly love Frankel to claim victory at Ascot

One more race Sir Henry Cecil would dearly love Frankel to claim victory at Ascot

'Because he's growing up he's easier to train so what I ask him to do he does it. “He's a better horse, he's an improving horse.

'It's been a great honour (to train Frankel), slightly nerve wracking.'

Frankel has been my inspiration, says Sir Henry Cecil

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Frankel has been my inspiration, says Cecil as grand Ascot finale approaches

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UPDATED:

22:26 GMT, 18 October 2012

Sir Henry Cecil says that Frankel had inspired him in his battle against cancer as he backed his unbeaten colt to cope with conditions in Saturday's Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

The world's best colt has five rivals headed by 2011 winner Cirrus Des Aigles and John Gosden's Nathaniel but of more concern is the ground described as 'very soft' on Thursday after five millimetres of rain overnight.

Grounds for concern: Cecils main worry for Frankel is the testing going

Grounds for concern: Cecils main worry for Frankel is the testing going

Legend: Frankel getting ready for his final race at Newmarket last month

Legend: Frankel getting ready for his final race at Newmarket last month

With up to eight millimetres further rain possible on Thursday night, Frankel will race on the most testing ground he has ever encountered in his 14th and final run.

Cecil said: 'He has been an inspiration and challenge which I needed so badly. Through my illness, I feel that the help from my wife Jane and the determination
to be there for Frankel has helped me so much to get through the season.

'I was very pleased with Frankel's final piece of work. He gives the impression that he is better than ever and still improving.

Golden memories: Sir Henry Cecil, Tom Queally and Frankel after victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last year

Golden memories: Sir Henry Cecil, Tom Queally and Frankel after victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last year

'I am pretty confident he will be fine in soft ground but if it's heavy we are in no-man's land. He has never encountered it and, with his action and turn of foot, I cannot be sure he would appreciate it.'

Frankel's jockey Tom Queally is taking heart from Frankel's debut back in August 2010 on ground officially termed soft. He said: 'I was quite taken with his debut when he handled conditions and I was able to bring him up through the gears. It is not an easy thing to do in slow conditions.'

The rain has emboldened punters to take on 1-6 Frankel for the first time this season with Coral reporting support for 4-1 chance Cirrus Des Aigles.

One of the greatest: Frankel on the way to victory in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot in 2010

One of the greatest: Frankel on the way to victory in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot in 2010

However, Nathaniel's jockey William Buick, whose mounts also include Gosden's Great Heavens making a quick reappearance in the Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes after her Arc sixth, remains realistic about his prospects.

Buick said: 'Frankel's unbeatable. On Saturday he'll do what he's always been doing and win and win well. Deep down, I hope he does. Obviously, I am there to try to win but Frankie (Dettori) said to me last night, “Get real.
It's not going to happen”.'

Dettori rides German Derby winner Pastorius with the field completed by Master of Hounds and Frankel's pacemaker Bullet Train.

Frankel half-brother Morpheus racing at Nottingham

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Morpheus follows in half-brother Frankel's footsteps in Nottingham meet

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UPDATED:

22:08 GMT, 16 October 2012

The Frankel team have played down expectations ahead debut of the wonder colt’s half-brother Morpheus in the opening race at Nottingham.

Four days before Sir Henry Cecil's unbeaten colt races for the final time in Saturday’s Qipco Champion Stakes, Morpheus takes on 12 opponents in the mile maiden.

However, Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khaled Abdullah, said he has concerns how Morpheus will handle the soft ground.

Oh brother! Frankel's sibling Morpheus will race in Nottingham

Oh brother! Frankel's sibling Morpheus will race in Nottingham

He added: 'He's a promising colt. He's not quite as robust – a racier type, although having said that there isn't much racier than Frankel.

'Is he going to be Frankel I hope so, but it's unlikely.'

Frankel and Morpheus share a dam in Kind but while Frankel’s sire is Galileo, Morpheus is by Oasis Dream.

The two other Frankel siblings to have raced have both won group races.

Bullet Train, a son of Sadler’s Wells who will again be Frankel’s pacemaker on Saturday, won the 2010 Group Three Lingfield Derby Trial while full-brother Noble Mission won Goodwood's Group Three Gordon Stakes from subsequent St Leger hero Encke.

Racy: Lord Grimthorpe (left) on has played down Morpheus' chances

Racy: Lord Grimthorpe (left) on has played down Morpheus' chances

Abdullah has a yearling half-sister to Frankel – also by Oasis Dream – waiting in the wings.

Coral quote 33-1 that Morpheus wins a British Classic and 12-1 he wins a group one race in this country in 2013.

Spokesman David Stevens said: ‘That’s how highly we rate he family.’

Trainer Charlie Hills has not yet made plans to replace Derby winning brother Michael as stable jockey.

Michael, 49, who won the 1996 Epsom Classic on Shaamit and was on board his brother’s 1,000 Guineas hope Just The Judge when she landed Saturday’s Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, retires at the end of the season after a career spanning four decades and 2,085 winners.

Charlie said: ‘Michael has been a true professional and a great help since I started training. Hopefully, he still will be.’

Richard Hughes followed his seven-timer at Windsor on Monday with a treble at Leicester headed by impressive Van De Neer, who may be supplemented to the Racing Post Trophy on Saturday week.

Nathaniel to face Frankel in Champion Stakes

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Nathaniel to lock horns with superstar Frankel in Champion Stakes

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UPDATED:

21:12 GMT, 14 October 2012

Nathaniel, forced out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe due to running a high temperature, is on course to take on Frankel in Saturday’s Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

The John Gosden-trained colt appeared in good shape on the Newmarket gallops at the weekend.

James Wigan, racing manager to the colt’s co-owner Lady Rothschild, said: ‘Nathaniel is going in the right direction and, at the moment, looks all set to run.’

Rematch: Nathaniel will face Frankel again after losing in 2010

Rematch: Nathaniel will face Frankel again after losing in 2010

The presence of this year’s Eclipse Stakes winner, along with French 2011 Champion Stakes winner Cirrus Des Aigles, should ensure a good test for unbeaten Frankel in his 14th and final run.

It will also provide perfect symmetry as Frankel beat Nathaniel half a length on their respective debuts at Newmarket in August 2010.

Meanwhile, Sir Henry Cecil is poised to give a debut to Frankel’s half-brother Morpheus at Nottingham on Wednesday.

Frankel fever set to hit Ascot at Champion Stakes

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Frankel fever set to hit Ascot with 40,000 expected for super-horse's final run

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UPDATED:

21:04 GMT, 3 September 2012

The clamour to witness Frankel's final run looks like pulling in Ascot's biggest modern-day crowd outside the royal meeting.

Sir Henry Cecil's unbeaten colt will sign off with a 14th career start in the Champion Stakes on October 20.

Stripped of the temporary facilities used at its great summer festival, Ascot's autumn capacity is only 30,000.

Unbeaten: Frankel is set for a final ride at the Champion Stakes at Ascot

Unbeaten: Frankel is set for a final ride at the Champion Stakes at Ascot

Frankel increased the attendance by more than 50 per cent at York last month.

Just under 27,000 went to the inaugural Qipco British Champions Day last year and officials believe Frankel could increase that to around 40,000 if capacity allowed. The Premier enclosure has already sold out.

Rod Street, chief executive of the British Champions series, plans talks with Ascot about raising capacity.

He added: 'The aspiration for Champions Day was a crowd of 40,000 within five years but that did not take into account the Frankel factor.'

Frankel trainer Sir Henry Cecil sets his sights on the Champions Stakes for final run

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Just Champion for Frankel as trainer Cecil sets his sights on Ascot for final run

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UPDATED:

21:26 GMT, 23 August 2012

The Champion Stakes at Ascot on
October 20 is still the likeliest race for Frankel's final run despite
his team admitting that the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has not been
discounted completely.

Coral quote Sir Henry Cecil's
unbeaten colt at 1-4 favourite (with a run) for the Arc after his
seven-length romp in Wednesday's Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Plan: Lord Grimthorpe

Plan: Lord Grimthorpe

But Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khaled Abdullah, said: 'The whole point of my job is to lay out the possibilities but we want to do the best for the horse and not be greedy with him.

'You have to discuss the other options. He is not in the Arc so it would need serious discussion but, at this moment, the Champion Stakes is favourite.'

Grimthorpe, who reported that Frankel had come back to the yard 'looking very pleased with himself', conceded that Cecil has always favoured the Champion Stakes, run for the first time on the new British Champions Day last year, and said that there would be no change in the plan to retire Frankel at the end of the season.

He added: 'The best time to leave a party is when you least want to go.

BLOW FOR MOORE

Sidelined jockey Ryan Moore had cause to curse his luck still further after watching title rival Richard Hughes steer 9-2 chance Rosdhu Queen to a smooth victory over Baileys Jubilee in York's Jaguar Lowther Stakes.

Moore broke his wrist at Warwick on Tuesday evening after a fall from Cresta Star, ironically a filly that Hughes would probably have been riding if he had not been suspended that day.

Hughes, now 1-6 favourite to land his first jockeys title after moving on to 99 wins, three behind Moore, sympathised with his colleague saying 'Sometimes there does not seem any justice.'

Hughes has a full book of rides at York today including three juvenile mounts for his guv'nor and father-in-law Richard Hannon on Pearl Acclaim, Wentworth and Indignant.

'Nice though it would be to carry on , he has given us three unbelievable years.'

However, providing the going is not soft, the Arc is a serious option for Alain de Royer-Dupre's Shareta after she caught John Gosden's 7-4 favourite The Fugue in the final 100 yards of yesterday's Yorkshire Oaks to win by a neck.

Shareta, whose first objective is the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on September 16, finished second to Danedream in last year's Arc and that will be her main target again, weather permitting.

On a rare bad day for Gosden this season, his Royal Ascot winner Newfangled was being assessed last night after injuring a pelvis and being pulled up after a furlong of the Lowther Stakes won by William Haggas's Rosdhu Queen.

The hope is that Newfangled will be saved but sadly the career of a filly who headed the betting for next year's 1,000 Guineas yesterday morning now looks over.

Irish trainer Dermot Weld saddled his second winner on the Knavesmire in successive days when the lightly-raced Pale Mimosa won the Galtres Stakes.

Having just her third start, Pat Smullen brought her down the centre of the track and she pulled two-and-a-quarter lengths clear of the Queen's Sequence. She will now be aimed at the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster.

Weld, who was successful with Olympiad in the staying handicap on the opening day of the meeting, said: 'It was a terrific performance. We have been waiting for a bit of decent ground for her.'

Royal Ascot 2012: Frankel wins Queen Anne Stakes

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Simply the best: Fantastic Frankel gets Royal Ascot underway with wonderful win

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UPDATED:

14:45 GMT, 19 June 2012

Frankel turned in another spellbinding performance to maintain his unbeaten record in the Queen Anne Stakes, the opening contest of Royal Ascot.

Sir Henry Cecil's colt put an early-season setback behind him to make a brilliant return to action in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month and he was an incredible 1-10 favourite to register his 11th victory from as many starts.

Simply the best: Tom Queally steers the unbeaten Frankel to victory in the Queen Anne Stakes

Simply the best: Tom Queally steers the unbeaten Frankel to victory in the Queen Anne Stakes

2.30 QUEEN ANNE STAKES RESULT

1 Frankel (T P Queally) 1-10 Fav
2 Excelebration (J P O'Brien) 5-1
3 Side Glance (J Fortune) 33-1

11 ran
Also: 50-1 Indomito 4th

The world's highest-rated racehorse
predictably tracked his pacemaker and three-parts brother Bullet Train
before taking over the lead three furlongs from home.

Excelebration
did his best to stick with his old rival, but Frankel was once again in
a class of his own as he stretched clear under Tom Queally to score by
11 lengths.

Celebration: Jockey Queally toasts yet another victory for fantastic Frankel at Ascot

Celebration: Jockey Queally toasts yet another victory for fantastic Frankel at Ascot

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Excelebration filled the runner-up spot, his fifth defeat at the hands of Frankel.

Side Glance finished third.

Rule Britannia: Royal Ascot got underway celebrating Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Rule Britannia: Royal Ascot got underway celebrating Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

The result was scarcely in doubt from the halfway stage, as Frankel moved ominously to the lead still full of running.

Just for a moment it appeared as
though Excelebration could shake up the market leader, but Frankel
showed a quite devastating turn of foot to leave him and the rest of the
field standing.

Excelebration almost paid the price
for trying to take on Frankel as he tired in the final furlong, but he
held off Side Glance by a neck to claim the runner-up spot.


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Cecil said: 'It's relief, I'm not surprised but relieved.

'There's no such thing as a certainty. He is a great horse and you've seen him for yourself so everybody can form their own opinion.

'He did exactly what I thought but he's still improving, Tom said he's still improving. He looks as if he'll stay a mile and a quarter so we'll leave our options open.

Star turn: Michael Owen is suited and booted as he arrives at the Berkshire racecourse

Gary Lineker and Danielle Lineker

Star turn: Michael Owen, Gary Lineken and his wife Danielle (R) arrive at the Berkshire racecourse

'He's in the Eclipse, he's in the Sussex, he's in the Juddmonte and the two races at the end of the year. He'll tell me what to do next, I don't tell him.

'It's very unlikely he'll go to the Breeders' Cup.'

Queally added: 'It was basically what everyone expected, so it's great that he did it.

'It looks like he's improving. He settled, he travelled, he got everything else off the bridle when I was still sitting there – he's amazing.

Speeding away: Frankel decimates his rivals to win the Queen Anne stakes

Speeding away: Frankel decimates his rivals to win the Queen Anne stakes

'That's his best performance. He ticked all the boxes, he did everything right. From my point of view he's been flawless in the past but I couldn't have asked for anything more.

'He had the perfect prep for it, Henry had no complications and we were able to do it nicely.'

O'Brien said of the runner-up: 'We were delighted with our horse but Frankel is unbelievable. We'll look at the entries we've made, see how he is and then have a talk about it.'

Man of the moment: Tom Queally takes the acclaim of racegoers after Frankel's wonderful triumph

Man of the moment: Tom Queally takes the acclaim of racegoers after Frankel's wonderful triumph

Andrew Balding added of Side Glance: 'I'm very pleased with our horse but I hope Frankel steps up in distance later in the season and if he does we'll come back here for QEII.'

Joseph O'Brien, who rode Excelebration, said: 'For a couple of strides I thought I might get close to him, but as soon as Tom pressed the button away he went.

'He's an exceptional horse. He's very, very good.'

Frankel will not race at the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes

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No Irish Champion Stakes bid for Frankel, says Sir Cecil

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UPDATED:

12:54 GMT, 24 May 2012

Sir Henry Cecil feels the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes does not fit into Frankel's schedule after taking the world-beating colt out of the Leopardstown Group One.

The four-year-old son of Galileo stretched his unbeaten record to 10 races with a devastating performance in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Frankel will not, however, take up an assignment in Ireland on September 8, for which stablemate Twice Over is still one of 50 entries.

Super star: Tom Queally riding Frankel at Newbury

Super star: Tom Queally riding Frankel at Newbury

Cecil told the Guardian: 'It's a great race and everything, but it's not in his programme.

'If, say, he's going to go for the Sussex Stakes (Goodwood, August 1) and then the Juddmonte (York, August 22), then he can't run in that, too.

'We can't enter him in everything.'