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A shame the Hungerford Stakes isn’t a Group 1, though the Prix Jacques le Marois may just about do
Are there any 7f 3yo+ Group 1’s in Western Europe?
Love to see Frankel in the July Cup
I’m certain that the vast majority of racing enthusiasts expected Frankel to win a deal more emphatically than he did this afternoon.
When an individual like Frankel fails to impress in the manner expected, we so often hear those ol’ chestnuts…
"He wasn’t at his best this afternoon" and / or "The second was flattered by his proximity to the winner".
On what basis are we expected to believe that Frankel ran below par this afternoon?
Dubawi Gold can not possibly be used as a yardstick because he was ridden in a completely different manner to Newmarket, where he came from farther back. He paid the price for trying to cover Queally’s move five furlongs from home.
On a line thorugh Excelebration, he didin’t run too far shy of his Greenham success. You need only look at the Marco Botti-trained colts rating to know how much he has improved this season. He will never topple Frankel, but is an honest, talented colt who has yet to run a bad race.
Of course, there are plenty of variables to ponder when comparing Newbury to Ascot, but the fact is that Frankel defeated Excelebration by an easy 4L at Newbury and a shade under 2 1/2L this afternoon. Taking into consideration the obvious maintained improvement of the third, I would beg to differ with the ‘experts’ who say there is plenty more to come from Frankel.
On the topic of Queally, I was his biggest critic after Epsom, where he managed to get Midday beat. You have to take into consideration the conditions, opposition, individual preference of the horse and the way a race develops when forming an opinion on the respective performance of a jockey.
Midday was travelling better than anything over her optimum trip and possessed the best turn of foot in the race. Her main rival (St Nicholas Abbey) had won over further on his previous outing and was not handling the course. Queally made a massive error of judgement to kick on so soon and the eventual winner benfitted from the runner-up tiring inside the final furlong.
Today, Queally adopted near identical tactics to those that saw him win so impressively at Newmarket. Forget Rerouted – he went off far too fast to influence the result in any way. Instead of breaking and making all, Queally restrained Frankel before unleashing him a full five furlongs from home.
Sir Henry Cecil said beforehand that he would never execute those front running tactics again but, take Rerouted out of the race, and his colt still burst clear after just three furlongs and Queally made damn sure that was where he wanted to be by bustling his mount up to emerge from the chasing pack. BBC cameras picked up Cecil and Queally talking tactics before the second race and I guarantee that he rode the colt to instructions.
Regardless of what connections say about tactics, Frankel will always be ridden that way over eight furlongs because, as the ol’ saying goes ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
Zoffany was not flattered by his proximity to the winner and could have benefitted from being a shade closer turning in. He wasa Group One winner over six furlongs as a juvenile and I have always been impressed by his turn of foot on fast ground.
He travels well and quickens in the blink of an eye. He had the best part of 10L to make up on Frankel turning in and 3L on Excelebration, who was asked for maximum effort early in the straight. If you look back at the race, Ryan Moore never got serious with Zoffany until inside the final two furlongs and when he did, Zoffany really flew.
Excelebration was maintaining his effort right to the line and Neebras was staying on, so to suggest that he was going by beaten horses is nonsense.
Dream Ahead ran a terrific race on his seasonal bow and will be a real threat over six furlongs on an easy surface (even genuine good ground). He hung badly, but kept on admirably for a colt eho probably just failed to see out the trip.
Frankel vs Canford Cliffs promises to be the clash of the century, and I just get the feeling that the Ricard Hannon-trained 4YO has the necessary tools to beat Frankel.
At this very moment, Canford Cliffs is top dog in the mile division.
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A shame the Hungerford Stakes isn’t a Group 1, though the Prix Jacques le Marois may just about do
Are there any 7f 3yo+ Group 1’s in Western Europe?
Love to see Frankel in the July Cup
What about the Prix Foret Drone? I’m sure we’d have Goldikova turn up and it would be great to get the two together before I suspect Goldikova is retired at the end of the season.
I would totally miss the Sussex stakes and give Frankel the summer off.
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Great post that’s just been put out there above this, sorry bad timing.
A shame the Hungerford Stakes isn’t a Group 1, though the Prix Jacques le Marois may just about do
Are there any 7f 3yo+ Group 1’s in Western Europe?
Love to see Frankel in the July Cup
The only one I can think of is the Foret on Arc weekend. There are none over here with the Hungerford, Park and Challenge Stakes all Group 2.
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A shame the Hungerford Stakes isn’t a Group 1, though the Prix Jacques le Marois may just about do
Are there any 7f 3yo+ Group 1’s in Western Europe?
Love to see Frankel in the July Cup
Jacques Le Marois or the Sussex – both run over an easier Im – though I agree he’s probably better over shorter.
Frankel ran 5f out.
Ran the 3rd last Furlong 11.8 sec
Ran 2nd Last Furlong 12.5 Sec
Ran the Final Furlong in 14 secImagine running the 3rd furlong in a sprint according to Terry Norman.
It was a terrible ride the horse is much better than that. Shocking stuff he ran the guts out of him, no horse could have kept that going.
Ran 8l slower in the final Furlong…The times do not lie. Terrible Terrible Ride
Frankel ran 5f out.
Ran the 3rd last Furlong 11.8 sec
Ran 2nd Last Furlong 12.5 Sec
Ran the Final Furlong in 14 secImagine running the 3rd furlong in a sprint according to Terry Norman.
It was a terrible ride the horse is much better than that. Shocking stuff he ran the guts out of him, no horse could have kept that going.
Ran 8l slower in the final Furlong…The times do not lie. Terrible Terrible Ride
That just about sums it up. Any decent race-reader will tell you Frankel has again put up an incredible performance given the circumstances.
There is nothing wrong with the horses’s stamina he doesn’t need a drop in trip he will get further.
A question to those that simply don’t get it : Had Canford Cliffs been given the ride Frankel had today and gone flat out for five furlongs how do you think he would’ve done?
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Every "other" expert in the game must be wrong then Reet.
Is that a tacit admission you regard me an expert, Ginger?
As someone said recently;In the land of the blind………………..
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I agree Tom Queally used the tank to early, can you blame him? it was about that point in the race Frankel flew under his arms in the 2000 Guineas, so no its wrong to knock the fella on board.
You have to give credit to Franke, it wasn’t long ago Khalid Abdulla took a wonder horse to Ascot and run the legs off the field and unfortunatly his horse too, similar demanding tactics here and Frankel was mature, brave and sound enough to land money for a MOST UNDESERVING CROWD if I’ve ever seen one.
Frankel’s run quicker than Canford Cliffs and Goldikova though, very nice.
I hear some bookies going EVENS for Sussex
, what’s this talk of Sir Henry stepping him up in trip? regretting the Derby now me thinks.- Total Posts 438
A very good post there, Bosranic, and I agree with the majority of what you’ve written; however, there are two very debatable points:
Taking into consideration the obvious maintained improvement of the third
How can we be sure that Excelebration has improved? He beat horses about which we know little in Germany; it’s entirely conceivable that he’s run to exactly the same mark today as he did at Newbury.If that’s the case (and I’m not saying that it is, but that it’s possible), then Frankel has by definition not run to his best form today. To say that Excelebration has definitely improved is nothing more than mere conjecture.
…so to suggest that he was going by beaten horses is nonsense.
In order, Zoffany passed Wootton Bassett (never at the races today); Grand Prix Boss (faded after trying to keep tabs with Frankel mid-race); Dream Ahead (held up, struggling turning for home; another who has kept on past those who played their cards earlier); Rerouted (pacemaker); Neebras (held up, kept on at one pace, never looked likely to win the race); Dubawi Gold (faded in the straight having tried to lay up with the winner and greatly eased); and finally Excelebration, who was ridden prominently. If that doesn’t consitute running on through beaten horses, I don’t know what does.
I suspect that you’re trying to make Zoffany’s (highly creditable) run look even better in order to justify your high opinion of the horse.
I watched Sir Henry Cecil’s post race interview on ATR with Gary O’Brien and John McCririck.
He seemed totally perplexed by the way the race had unfolded, and intimated ( albeit indirectly ) that the jockey failed to follow instructions, saying that the plan was to take it up in the home straight – and had Frankel had been held up that bit longer; perhaps 2 or 3 furlongs more before kicking on, then he wouldn’t have idled in front.
He also didn’t seem enamoured with the idea of taking on Canford Cliffs at Goodwood, although he didn’t rule it out – " they may have to meet somewhere but the horse will tell us where to go " – and suggested that Frankel could step up in trip, with the Juddmonte at York being a possible target.
Willie Carson said that Tom Queally should have held on to the horse for much longer and showed more patience. He also said that we haven’t seen the best of Frankel and with more restraining tactics, he will be even harder to beat.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Thanks all, yep overlooked the Prix de la Foret
I’d agree that Queally took the pacemaker too soon, though I wasn’t particularly taken with Frankel’s head carriage nor his action when in front. Irresolute would be too harsh, but it didn’t please
Two tough races in succession at a trip which is IMO an absolute maximum for him
hmm…
So I was there and I can tell you we werent so much an undeserving crowd as a relieved one. The general feeling was one of surprise at the tactics and it did appear from interviews afterwards that TQ went much earlier than expected.
I imagine there will be strong words between trainer and jockey tonight and I doubt you will ever see the horse ridden like that again.
As for Zoffany, I hold my hand up as I thought he had to improve tons to get involved but he has run a fantastic race. It COULD be argued that he benefitted from the most patient ride a la Dubawi Gold in the 2,000 but there is also Bos’ argument that he could have won if ridden more handy. We will never know but the Sussex might tell us more.
Personally I am with the camp that say Frankel won despite being given a very average ride that reminded me of the one he gave Twice Over in last year’s Eclipse where again he went too early.
I am surprised at the hostility shown by some on here about a horse that is still unbeaten after 7 races. This is the first time in his career that he has looked anything less than invincible and my strong feeling is that we didnt see him anywhere near his best today.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
I managed to watch the race on BBC online at work although would you believe it – the connection was lost in the final half furlong! My keyboard took a right bashing and there was much swearing. But I knew by then that Frankel would hold on.
IMO Frankel won despite Queally. I’m not one to knock young jockeys who suddenly find themselves thrust into the limelight on exceptional horses – it seems evident that Queally is panicking far too much on Frankel when there’s no need to. He needs to have more confidence in Frankel’s abilities.
Frankel has an incredible turn of foot. All Queally has to do is sit, sit and sit and then let go. Absolutely no need for this demented kick-on-with-four-to-go nonsense. Rerouted went off at 100mph and was always going to come back to the field. Queally only had to ease past him, hold on to Frankel’s head and kick on in the straight – or sit further back and ease through the field like in the Royal Lodge.
It’s easy to be an armchair jockey though. I’ve not ridden a horse for 2 years. Would happily pay a lot of money to sit on Frankel!
I’m sure Queally will learn from this. I just hope he’s not bottomed Frankel out with the last two rides. I’d like to see Frankel in the Juddmonte – held up – threaded through the field and taken to the front with 2f to go. He’d stay no problem with a good ride.
Who knows if Frankel’s as good as the older horses or how decent this year’s 3yos are – time will tell – but facts are facts and Frankel is unbeaten and won yet another G1 today despite a mad ride. What I do know is that this horse has rekindled my interest in racing like no other and once Queally learns to relax in the way Frankel has learned to do, then I’m sure he can go on and beat the older horses later this season.
I feel that there is too much staging of Frankel. Why not just let the jockey ride the horse.The actual pacemaker screwed, as they often do, the ride of Queally.Had there been no pacemaker or riding instructions Frankel would be free to race as the jockey saw fit and would eliminate all the staging etc etc.They say they are going back to the drawingboard,heavens forbid another act.I am tired of Cecil running the race before the race.That is only done when needed to win the race.Frankel can win without that.Seems like Henry is terrified that Frankel will lose a race.If Aidan had been afraid of losing he would never have taken on Sea the Stars with his best horses like he did.The fear of losing seems to paralyze Queally also.
Reminded me of the race where Giants Causeway got beat; felt horses were trying to challenge wide so Frankel wouldn’t see them [saw one horse pull out but drift back towards the other horses] and, if he’s ridden the same way again the tactic will work.
I agree Andyod – Cecil’s use of pacemakers with Frankel in the last 3 races has been nothing short of shambolic and hasnt helped the horse one bit.
Leave the pacemakers to Ballydoyle!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
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