Out-and-out galloper Frankel showed his true style in Guineas trial Greenham Stakes
at Newbury Racecourse.                          Photo copyright David Hastings

The magnificent three-year old Frankel (Galileo IRE) laid down the challenge, after just two furlongs, to the other twelve runners in The Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Class 1) (Group 1), Rowley Mile for three year old males at Newmarket Racecourse.

After watching his impatience in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury and his losing lengths fighting his jockey Tom Queally for his head, I could only hope that his Juddmonte connections would let him sort out the Guineas on his own imperious terms.

They did and he did.  No colt ever posed a danger to him as Frankel was some 10 lengths ahead of the pack at times in the first Classic of Britain's 2011 season. 

His trainer Henry Cecil, who won the 25th Classic of his career with Frankel today, said he appeared to hesitate two furlongs out for some horse to come for him.

This horse is a scrapper - if he can find a horse capable of battling him.  Only Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA), triple Breeders' Cup Turf Mile winner, comes to mind.

A horse who impressed me on the AW, much more than the experts and punters who sent him off at 33.1, was recently switched to trainer Richard Hannon.  Dubawi Gold (Dubawi IRE) passed late-entry grey Native Khan FR (Azamour (IRE) for second at six lengths behind Frankel and Native Khan a further ½ length.

Native Khan's trainer, Ed Dunlop, was not sure his horse was ready for the step up in trip and and cannot regret giving the grey his chance.

His jockey Olivier Peslier felt a mile and quarter or half would be no problem and he will be targeted at either the French Derby or English Derby. 

Turkish races could be in his future as he is owned by Turkish businessman Ibrahim Araci.

Hannon, chuffed with Dubawi Gold's success, intends to send him to all the big mile races where Frankel is not competing.  The Irish Guineas and Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot are likely next races. 

Jockey Richard Hughes said his “horse passed every horse on the bridle” from last place as it took him 100 yards to settle and he was well out of the race. It was quite a feat of acceleration and guts. 

Slim Shadey (Val Royal FR), who was a 200 to 1 outsider, came in fourth by another 11 lengths.  His half brother, Cockney Rebel IRE (Val Royal FR), won the 2000 Guineas in 2007 when he also ran as an outsider.  SS was the handsomest horse in the race.

Frankie Dettori who rode Goldolphin's 10th-placed Casamento IRE (Sharmardal USA) said "It was a superb race.  I tried to go after him (Frankel) and killed myself.  My horse is a middle distance horse and the pace was too hot.  Basically Frankel got everybody out of the comfort zone.  He is a superstar."

Ryan Moore on 11-placed Roderic O'Connor echoed Dettori with "I have never seen anything like that.  I couldn't lay up with Frankel and, if you can't lay up with them, you aren't going to get to them."

Those are comments from the world-class riders on the betting favourites.

Frankel, named after the late U.S. trainer Bobby Frankel who trained for Prince Khalid Abdullah, is a Juddmonte Farms homebred. 

One has to think, if he could, Frankel would be looking down with pride and a chuckle as his muscular namesake trounced the lot of them.

Frankel is being compared to Sea The Stars IRE (Cape Cross IRE) who was ridden at all distances with restraint and never exposed his full potential. 

Instead, the colt reminded me more of the late spirited Dubai Millennium USA (Seeking The Gold USA) who, when allowed, galloped every horse into the ground.


Ratings Game

Now the ratings battles start among handicappers. 

Dominic Gardiner-Hill, the official British Horseracing Authority handicapper for milers in Britain, puts Frankel at 127, 128 or 130 depending on how the other horses he beat progress in the season.

The Racing Post’s Paul Curtis issued a star-struck 133 and Timeform awarded him 142.

Frankly, I would be cautiously conservative.  Only major future victories from the two who got near him, Dubai Gold and Native Khan, could justify a 133 for Frankel.  The rest of the runners in the race looked like mugs up against him.


Other Future Stars

Dandino is proud of himself after winning The QIPCO Jockey Club
Stakes at Newmarket.   Photo copyright Racing International

Lest one forget that there were other races on the day.  Pretty Boy Dandino (Dansili) under Paul Mulrennan won a squeaker against Native Ruler (Cape Cross IRE) in the latter’s return after two years off track, due to injury, in The QIPCO Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2), 1m 4f.
 

Dandino’s trainer, James Given, paid tribute to Henry Cecil for bringing Native Ruler back to form after such a long recuperation.