Tag Archives: colt

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 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 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.'