Frankel tops mile rankings with an official rating of 130

Frankel put up officially the best performance in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas for 18 years and tops the early rankings for the QIPCO British Champions Series Mile category.

The British Horseracing Authority’s top handicapper for mile races, Dominic Gardiner-Hill, has put his official rating up to 130 (from 126) as a result of his six length demolition of his rivals in the first race of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

“Frankel put up as visually as stunning a performance as I have seen, but it’s a performance that is difficult to put a figure on with confidence at this stage,” Gardiner-Hill explained.

“Runner -up Dubawi Gold went into the contest rated 101 and third placed Native Khan was 111 pre-race – the big question is how much they have improved in finishing 11 lengths and more in front of the rest? Interestingly, the first three home had all run previously this season and maybe that worked in their favour given the searching gallop the race was run at.

“None of the first three can realistically be used as the ‘marker’ horse so I am basing my initial figures on an historical perspective mixed in with some ‘gut feeling’ – the average performance rating for the runner-up in the previous ten 2000 Guineas is 117, whilst the average for the third over the same period is 114.

“I am going to go with the higher level for the time being and have Dubawi Gold running to 117 and Native Khan at 116 – obviously future performances from this pair will be vital in either confirming this initial level or suggesting a change needs to be made.

“Taking this view, I have Frankel running to a mark of 129+ but given the style of his success I will be publishing him on a figure of 130. Whichever way you look at it, however, it was the best 2000 Guineas winning performance on BHA figures since Zafonic in 1993.

“From a personal point of view I hope that the decision is made to keep Frankel at a mile this season – it is difficult to see where any opposition is going to come from amongst the three year olds and the St James’s Palace Stakes (at Royal Ascot on 14 June) looks a formality if he is in the same form as he was on Saturday.

“I don’t believe any horse can realistically be called a true champion however until he has bettered his elders and the real test will come should he be allowed to take on the likes of Canford Cliffs (127), Dick Turpin (124) and Goldikova (125) – those clashes would be worth travelling a long way for and would tell us exactly how good the ‘wonder horse’ is!!”

The first time that Frankel, as a three-year-old, could clash with these older horses is in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes on 27 July, but we are likely to see stable companions Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin appear in the next QIPCO British Champions Series Mile race, the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday 14 May. Star French miler Goldikova, meanwhile, may take them both on in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, run on the same day as the St James’s Palace Stakes, Tuesday 14 June.

Don’t forget, you can watch all these QIPCO British Champions Series races live on Channel 4 or the BBC, or you can come and savour the magical atmosphere at the track. Click here to find out how to book tickets.

To read the fascinating blogs from the BHA handicappers on a regular basis, visit: http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/blogs/handicappers.asp