Fingers crossed for Frankel

Frankel returns in triumph after his extending his unbeaten careeer record to nine straight wins in the Queen Elzabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day last October. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The first indications were that the leg injury sustained by Frankel during routine exercise on the Newmarket training grounds on Wednesday was just superficial, but there are now fears that it could potentially be more serious.

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Prince Khalid Abdulla, initially told the Racing Post: "Frankel has been scanned and no damage was shown, but we will have him scanned again next week and we will know more then.

"That will tell us more, I wish I could say more conclusively one way or the other, but we just don’t know. We remain hopeful but obviously it is a concern, we wouldn’t have mentioned it otherwise.

"You have to take every precaution and he is in the best hands, receiving all the right attention. I can’t predict what will happen. If something comes up, it comes up, but we are still hopeful he will be fine. We’ll know more in a week’s time."

The JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on 19 May, in the Mile category of the QIPCO British Champions Series, had been the Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt’s first target of the season followed by a race at Royal Ascot, while he was set to work on the track prior to racing at Newbury next week.

In an interview broadcast yesterday evening on racing satellite channel At The Races, Grimthorpe gave a slightly less positive update: "He was a bit sore the morning after and with the filling it looked as if he may have struck into himself as he is an exuberant worker.

"The initial scan showed no damage, which is a positive, but we will wait until the end of next week to scan it again as we want to give the haemorrhaging a chance to stop and for the filling to dissipate.

"It could potentially be more serious, we won’t know until the scan, but even with the best-case scenario he is unlikely to make it to Newbury.

"It is too early to rule him out of Ascot, but if he were fine and he were to come back, Henry [Cecil] wouldn’t rush him back, we’d race him when he’s ready.

"Prince Khalid’s mantra is always to do what is best for the horse, that comes above any sentimental or commercial interests and we will do what is best for Frankel when we know more."

Fingers crossed that the magnificently athletic Frankel can shake off this setback and thrill us on the track once again in 2012.