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Ginger just to clarify is that I would say he was more impressive in winning his champion stakes that Frankel was in winning his- their overall records cannot be compared.
So pleased to finally see something like that from a Frankel. It’s been a long wait! Before we all get carried away, though, Cracksman isn’t his dad. Even now, at something near full maturity, I cannot see him being able to do what Frankel did in the 2000 Guineas or the Queen Anne. Those totally jaw dropping performances were in another league to today’s. But he is certainly, by a country mile, the best horse in Crop 1, and a proper top G1 middle distance horse. And – key for his future – he has now won a 10f G1.
As to the future, I think, now they’ve learned how to ride him over 10f, that they’ll be keen to add to the 10f CV, as well as put a 12f G1 on it. So, maybe he will go Prince of Wales’, Eclipse, King George, Juddmonte … Potentially too they could go to Dubai with him and/or, think about a season that culminates in the BC? If they do that, I’m not sure they’ll be thinking ‘Arc’.
The more I think about it, the more I’m not convinced that we will see Enable v Cracksman. The mare’s a 12f horse and her whole season will surely revolve around the defence of her Arc crown. With Cracksman, it’s important to show that he can do the same over 10f as he did today but on better ground. So, sadly for racing fans, programmes can be devised that pretty much avoid one another. The other factor that must surely weigh heavily is that when you get two that run like this and which are so similar in run style you get a race for the ages – Grundy v Bustino, Fantastic Light v Galileo in the Irish Champion. They will run to the point of quite possibly never being the same again. So, if it happens at all, I think it will be in the Arc – and in the meantime Frankie can look forward to some mega pay days in 2018.
A final thought – credit is surely due to ‘Johnny G’. If he had run these two against one another this time round in this year’s Arc he might not have had two top 4yos to campaign next year. Plus, of the four Frankel’s he had from Crop 1 (Cracksman, Cunco, Seven Heavens and Monarch’s Glen), he has one that has won a G1 and one that is surely a G1 horse in waiting (Monarch’s Glen – who, as predicted by Joni, has been withdrawn from the HiT Sale). The two that he’s been patient with have rewarded him handsomely … If AOB is the trainer for Galileo’s maybe JG is turning into the one who is working out the Frankel’s?
To be clear, I’m not saying Cracksman is within hailing distance of his sire on merit. But if he gets a full healthy season next year, he might well get a fair bit closer. To have a chance of ever matching Frankel he would need to carry on improving and, very probably, be allowed to continue as a 5-y-o, a highly unlikely prospect.
Again I will say that Cracksman’s racing attitude is a huge asset that is probably undervalued. His owner said post race that they had all been shell shocked by his performance. They’d expected him to run very well but not to that level. I suspect that much of that is because they do not see him deploy that massively competitive attitude in his homework.
He might not yet have his sire’s ground-devouring stride but he looks to me a touch more athletic than Frankel who was a bull of a horse to my eye, built more like a classic sprint type. I hope he is campaigned relatively sparingly to help keep him hungry.
To my eyes, as he pulled away down the straight today, that was the most Frankel-esque display I’ve seen from any of his progeny yet, although I don’t follow them as closely as some here. From the younger horses, Herculean cetainly seemed to have a good bit of his father in him based on his one run a month back, and happy to have snaffled a bit of 40/1 about him for the Guineas. Anyway, Cracksman proved himself today beyond doubt, and it was great to see (despite having a decent sized bet on Barney Roy who was woeful on the ground).
Think we will see him over 10F again with either the Eclipse or Juddmonte (courses that would suit his galloping style) being good options for him – think the KG will be his main target as owner has previous with Golden Horn missing the race because of the ground.
I do wonder where he will be asked to start his season, the Coronation Cup maybe but a part of me selflessly hopes he goes to the evening meeting at Sandown for the Brigadier Gerrard St as it is my local track and I would love to see him there.
Lovely photo Tonge, nice to get such expression on the face of both horse and jockey in one shot.
Woke up with a great big broad grin on my face that had nothing to do with my wife but everything to do with the “other man” in our relationship!!!
It really was a long time coming but how wonderful when it did. Such a powerful performance from a colt that almost certainly still has his best days ahead of him. As they say in todays post https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/bloodstock-world/cracksman-puts-the-group-1-icing-on-frankels-european-cake/305585
there is surely no doubting what a super-sire Frankel is now. 20 black type winners and a champion. It feels really good.I will wallow in this all Winter but, for what it’s worth and to join the debate, I reckon Cracksman will go Jockey Club Stakes as Newmarket, followed by Prince of Wales, King George, Juddmonte, Arc.
Newmarket would be a nice starting point as he has proven he loves that track. Then Royal Ascot, I was thinking last night that with Ulysses being retired and Barney almost certain to go back to a mile, there might not be too much to beat over 10f – certainly before the 3 year-olds join in. In fact his biggest rival may prove to be half-brother Eminent. Then the King George for part 1 of what I hope will be one of the biggest clashes in generations…..Cracksman V Enable. The mouth waters……. York is the perfect track for Cracksman so the Juddmonte would fit in nicely before Longchamp in October for the rematch. Of course life never works out like we think it will but we can at least dream no?
I am pretty sure they will leave the Coronation for Enable as she handles Epsom well and I wouldn’t be surprised if they try and win a 10f Group 1 with her so the Eclipse could be the race.
Whatever happens we have plenty to look forward to between now and May.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Just to put the cherry on top Dermot Weld’s Juddmonte filly, Contingent, wins on debut. “She could just be very good. She has a lot of class” said Mr Weld.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Just to put the cherry on top Dermot Weld’s Juddmonte filly, Contingent, wins on debut. “She could just be very good. She has a lot of class” said Mr Weld.
Just catching up with all the action at Ascot Joni and what a fantastic day it was especially for all the Frankel fans out there.
Cracksman Wins the Champion Stakes what better way to end the flat season.Great pictures from Tonge thank you for those and really envy you being there on the day to witness that moment.
As for me I’m going to let Kate Bush sum up how I feel…..got a bit dizzy doing the twirls
Looking forward to next season already Joni especially to see Cracksman again and I think I also fell in love with Monarch’s Glen at Newmarket last time out, I was knocked out by how much like Frankel he looked when he walked past me in the parade ring. Emininent of course
will always be my special boy but Cracksman so deserved that win and what a lovely owner he has in Anthony Oppenheimer.Frankel is going from strength to strength and with a new crop of 2yo’s out next season we won’t know where to look. I know you’ll be booking some time out for Newmarket to watch Cracksman romp home in the Jockey Club Stakes Joni…see you there..
JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I was getting a bit worried about you Jac! Good to hear from you. What a day it was hey?! Just read Timeform’s piece on the race. They have marked him up at 136, joint leading figure of the season, and revealed that he ran the last furlong quicker than any other horse on the card including the sprinters! That’s quite a feat considering they didn’t hang about. Yes so much to look forward to and I am hoping a little bit more to come even this season with Nelson and Soul Stirring both holding good chances in Group 1’s this weekend.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
I was itching to post up on here on Saturday Joni but we were away all weekend for a Wedding in York..managed a few sneaky peaks and went back to celebrate big time at the reception, what a great feelgood feeling I’ve had and still have to have seen Frankel’s baby crowned Champion.
Looking forward to your review of the Season when you get time and it’s been a real pleasure to read your posts along with Titus who compliments what you have written perfectly
adding his own knowledge on the breeding side, I particularly loved his comments about Elarqam and his heritage and who knows what he will achieve next Season.
Just 3 more days left at Newmarket Rowley Mile now Joni and this Wednesday sees an 8 race card 7 of them 2yo races so I will have my best eagle eye on them and report back any that stand out..not sure if any Frankels running yet but surely there must be a couple…I’ll get some pics if there are really looking forward to getting back to our home from home..
Jac XThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...2018 campaign for Cracksman to start with Jockey Club Stakes ? Nah its a Group 2 and not good on a stallion’s CV.
Put the lad in the Lockinge and let him stuff the milers before the big 10 & 12 furlong Group 1’s
Now that is an idea I like Devonian – I too can’t see why they’d mess about with a G2 now. With those sectionals, why not try the 8 – 12f G1 range? What’s there to lose actually? Plus, Minding showed it can be done in one season; and, before then, there’s ‘The Brigadier’, though his were across seasons. It’s certainly one way to get one over in the stallion marketing department on his dad, who was never asked to win over 12f (though, looking at his stock, it’s pretty sure that he’d have had that in his compass as a 4yo). If you look at who is likely to be around in the 4yo+ mile division too, the Lockinge looks relatively easy pickings – Barney, Roly Poly, but who else (assuming Ribchester is @ Darley by then)?
On the Prince of Wales’: I’m sure I read somewhere that Ascot are trying to make sure we get to see Winx, and this is the obvious race. Cracksman, Winx and Enable in one race? Somehow I don’t think so. Enable is almost certainly going to go to Epsom for the Coronation and so would by-pass RA. But Cracksman v a hopefully 3x Cox’s Plate winner Winx would really be a race for the ages.
The only slight concern I have about all this is how they will manage to get Cracksman through the winter without a race. As was obvious at Ascot, now that he’s a mature horse he is a real handful. Rearing is one of his speciality tricks, and I think JG wasn’t joking when he said something to the effect that if they didn’t run him in the Champion then he would be down to ride him. If they have to run him to keep the lid on him then Dubai starts to come into the equation – and that’s the Jack Hobbs route.
ps Jac – Jim Crowley is talking up Elarqam big time. I will make sure to try to get to Middleham’s Open Day next year, just as I did to see his mum before she won the 1000
ps Jac – Jim Crowley is talking up Elarqam big time. I will make sure to try to get to Middleham’s Open Day next year, just as I did to see his mum before she won the 1000
Can you arrange a coach Titus?
I think there are a few here who might like to tag along..LOL
Make sure to bring back lots of pictures I bet he’ll be even more of a stunner next season if that is possible JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...For me the following would be a good set of targets for his 4 yr old season as each race gives him a nice break between them
Brigadier Gerrard St (24 May),
POW (20 Jun)
or Hardwick St (23 Jun) – alternative option if they felt the ground would be too fast for 10F in POW
Eclipse (7 July),
King George (28 July),
Juddmonte (22 Aug)
Prix Foy (9 Sep) – option if they wanted a prep run for the Arc
Arc (7 Oct) or Champion Stakes (20 Oct)
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