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Joni,it was a pleasure to meet both you and your horse
Frankel
on the same day,neither dissapointed.Likewise I was pleased to see Ginger for the first time too and yes he does practice what he preaches as within 2 minutes of introducing ourselves out pops Gingers…..You know what! ‘The Percentage Notebook’! I tried in vain to snatch it off him when he told me
Mac’s Power
had a 24.255% chance of winning! I’m sorting the Pics out tomorrow mate as I had a slight detour on the way home,I missed my turn off on the M40 to take the A43 to the M1and ended up in bloody Coventry………Not for the first time eh?
I think my mind was wandering at the time thinking about ‘Our’ horse ‘Frankel’ winning the Eclipse! Well done again its a great feeling when you spot talent early and it comes to fruition!It was great meeting you too Gord and Mark too. Hope it is the first of many times. So glad my little horse didn’t let me down!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Nice to meet both TAPK and Joni yesterday. Gord is certainly not the formidable foe some posts on here might suggest.
Hawaafez did us both a favour Joni. Hope Daddy told the tale of how Frankel won the Lockinge.
Hope to meet both of you again at Goodwood some time.
Value Is EverythingNice to meet both TAPK and Joni yesterday. Gord is certainly not the formidable foe some posts on here might suggest.
Christ Ginge Women love me,you only need to look at ‘Eclipse First’ posting constantly on my threads to know that! If she could put up a bloody winner I’d take her out for a drink! And dont say you wouldn’t come Eclipse either!!
Before this thread becomes a free online dating service….
Frankel
yesterday.
What can I say. As the Ginge and TAPK will tell you I was confident but nervous as hell. As soon as I saw him in the paddock though I knew he would be fine. When I saw him last year first time out in the Greenham he was carrying a bit of condition. This time around it was all muscle. Henry may be right that he will improve for the run but trust me he was ready to race yesterday.
As some others have already said this was his best all round performance to date. He was incredibly chilled in the paddock and I didnt even see his usual a*se crack sweat (what is the correct term again Ginge?!). He went down to the start very calmly and then the race began.
My first surprise was that Windsor Palace settled in behind. What on earth were they thinking? I can only assume he either a) couldnt go the early pace (unlikely as it was not a fast one) or b) after beating SNA last week he was in the race on his merits. Either way I was amazed they let team Frankel have it all their own way.
There was never an anxious moment really was there? Frankel settled very well. The best he has ever done which must augur well for when he steps up in trip. His turn of foot was electric and his enormous stride took him further and further away. It was quite scintillating and there were gasps and whoops and shaking heads from everyone as he passed the post. We all knew we had just witnessed something special.
My own emotion was relief above all else. He is a horse after all and you never know what can happen. I doubt I will have a penny on him all year but I would not have felt any different if I had put a years salary on him. I drove home with a sore throat but a huge smile. An incredible once in a lifetime horse.
What about the future? Well it will surprise some people to hear that I agree with those that say he should step up very much sooner than later. I’ll give them the Queen Anne but after that let’s see him at 10f please. He has nothing left to prove at a mile and will only now be beating the same horses. Also, the earlier they step him up the more options they have. If he wins the Eclipse going away they can even dare think about the King George or the Arc. Sir H mentioned it at the start of the season and he will certainly get the entry. I know Henry will do what he feels is best for the horse but until they try that other distance how will they know for sure?
I have a feeling they may wait til York as it is the easier track but I think that would be a shame and would invite unnecessary criticism.
For me he is the greatest trainer of my lifetime so I will respect his decisions but I do hope they are brave.
It was a great day and I would implore any of you that havent yet seen him – beg, borrow or steal but get a ticket and come and see him race.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
He was incredibly chilled in the paddock and I didnt even see his usual a*se crack sweat (what is the correct term again Ginge?!).
Think I’ve over-edited Joni’s post. Better point out before I go any further Joni is talking about Frankel.
Wouldn’t exactly call it an "a*se crack sweat" Joni, but sweating between the upper part of a horse’s back legs is called a "kidney sweat".
Value Is EverythingBefore this thread becomes a free online dating service….
Gord needs to be "cut", far too "coltish".
Value Is EverythingHe was incredibly chilled in the paddock and I didnt even see his usual a*se crack sweat (what is the correct term again Ginge?!).
Think I’ve over-edited Joni’s post. Better point out before I go any further Joni is talking about Frankel.
Wouldn’t exactly call it an "a*se crack sweat" Joni, but sweating between the upper part of a horse’s back legs is called a "kidney sweat".
Ah that was it. I still prefer my description!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
My first surprise was that Windsor Palace settled in behind. What on earth were they thinking? I can only assume he either a) couldnt go the early pace (unlikely as it was not a fast one) or b) after beating SNA last week he was in the race on his merits. Either way I was amazed they let team Frankel have it all their own way.
(imo)
No surprise. Coolmore knew beforehand Bullet Train was going to make it a fairly good pace. Doubt whether they wanted to have two horses for Frankel to settle behind. Sometimes on reappearance horses can be too "fresh". In last year’s Greenham (reappearance), team Cecil had Picture Editor in to set the pace. However, Frankel’s (then) nature wouldn’t allow it, soon too free. Quealy (unable to settle him) made the correct decision to go on. Had similar happened yesterday; Coolmore, in the hope he’d take a strong hold Windsor Palace could,ve tried to set Frankel even further alight by going alongside a possibly already "rank" Frankel.There was never an anxious moment really was there? Frankel settled very well. The best he has ever done which must augur well for when he steps up in trip. His turn of foot was electric and his enormous stride took him further and further away. It was quite scintillating and there were gasps and whoops and shaking heads from everyone as he passed the post. We all knew we had just witnessed something special.
Frankel was certainly more relaxed both in the prelims (with his usual lip chain) and race itself. So Coolmore’s plan (if I am right that it was a plan) had no chance of coming to fruition. What a performance! Didn’t have time to digest, one of the many audience members in the Winners Enclosure Stakes. A race to get a good position to see Frankel come in. Never quite remember so many in the Dash to see a flat horse. Joe Public have taken Frankel The Freek to their hearts. There wasn’t a free place around the pre-parade ring, even as the preceding race reached its climax.
My own emotion was relief above all else. He is a horse after all and you never know what can happen. I doubt I will have a penny on him all year but I would not have felt any different if I had put a years salary on him. I drove home with a sore throat but a huge smile. An incredible once in a lifetime horse.
You’ve been Frankelled!
What about the future? Well it will surprise some people to hear that I agree with those that say he should step up very much sooner than later. I’ll give them the Queen Anne but after that let’s see him at 10f please. He has nothing left to prove at a mile and will only now be beating the same horses. Also, the earlier they step him up the more options they have. If he wins the Eclipse going away they can even dare think about the King George or the Arc. Sir H mentioned it at the start of the season and he will certainly get the entry. I know Henry will do what he feels is best for the horse but until they try that other distance how will they know for sure?
Time will come when there’s no point keeping to a mile. No good horse is going to take him on. Suspect turning up in the Sussex and/or QEII all other good milers will take a trip to France for their duo of Group 1’s. So yes, a step up sooner rather than later will be best. Otherwise we’ll hear the "isn’t beating anything" jibe grow louder.
Before yesterday’s race I didn’t believe Frankel would be as good at 1m2f as he is at 1m. For sure bred to get it, but temperament might stop him from doing so. However, although a few doubts remain, I’d be far more confident now he seems more relaxed.
However, what about postponing the step up to 10 furlongs until a 5 year old season? And take on Black Caviar over York’s 7 furlongs?I have a feeling they may wait til York as it is the easier track but I think that would be a shame and would invite unnecessary criticism.
With York’s Chairman and Frankel’s owner’s racing manager being the same bloke, suspect it will be at York we’ll see Frankel run at 10 furlongs.
For me he is the greatest trainer of my lifetime so I will respect his decisions but I do hope they are brave.
It was a great day and I would implore any of you that havent yet seen him – beg, borrow or steal but get a ticket and come and see him race.
Too Right Joni! Frankel is one of the best horses of all time. In my opinion he’s the best horse that’s ever set foot on a racecourse. Anyone calling themselves a racing enthusiast should make the effort to see him in the flesh. Privalege to be there.
Value Is EverythingNice to meet both TAPK and Joni yesterday. Gord is certainly not the formidable foe some posts on here might suggest.
Christ Ginge Women love me,you only need to look at ‘Eclipse First’ posting constantly on my threads to know that! If she could put up a bloody winner I’d take her out for a drink! And dont say you wouldn’t come Eclipse either!!
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-laughing001.gif
Ginge – do you (or anyone else) know if the £1 million on offer for the Sussex is dependent on both F and BC running? Or is it now just set into the conditions of the race. Might have a bearing.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
merci beaucoup!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
It’s been a quiet week but it all hots up this week.
I think there is every chance AOB will win all three Group 1’s at Epsom this week.
I have a little bit of
Main Sequence
at 33’s as I have backed him every time he has run and like him a lot. But I am realistic enough to know a place is probably the best I can hope for. AOB dominates the race and if Camelot doesnt win (which I think he will) there is every chance one of Imperial Monarch or Astrology will.
I have no financial interest in the Oaks but hope The Fugue does it for the boys on Gord’s thread and I like Johnny G. Maybe is in my TTTF and she has a favourites chance as she will have improved massively for Newmarket.
Another of my TTTF’s is St Nicholas Abbey and it does not look a great renewal this year. I am not altogether sure he handles Epsom that well but I cant see anything to trouble him as I am almost certain my World Cup winner Monterosso will be another Dubai horse to disappoint back over here.
I have been keeping a watching brief over the last week as ground conditions change but hopefully things are starting to settle down a bit now.
I am a glutton for punishment and will be backing 2 Cecil horses that let me down last time.
Searing Heat
is supposed to be so much better than a 63 rated handicapper. I missed the 12’s, grabbed the 11’s he is now 10’s. It might just be that he is useless but he finally runs on decent ground and I expect him to improve massively for that.
Emilio Largo
didnt handle the all weather last time out and ran very well before that. He has been dropped 2 lbs and I think he will go close at 9-2.
I’ve doubled up on them as well.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Big gamble on Searing Heat today. Now 11-2!!!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
I think my mind was wandering at the time thinking about ‘Our’ horse ‘Frankel’ winning the Eclipse! 
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