Frankel all set for the nearly sold-out QIPCO British Champions Day

Memories of last year’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas as Frankel passes the Rowley Mile grandstand in splendid isolation. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Frankel warmed up for what is expected to be the final race of his career on QIPCO British Champions Day when enjoying a public gallop on the Rowley Mile before racing this afternoon.

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Frankel went round the Newmarket parade ring with his stable companions Bullet Train and Specific Gravity (a late replacement for Midsummer Sun) before cantering down to the nine furlong start where they started the gallop just before 1pm.

The aim was to create race conditions and it looked very much like that as Bullet Train cut out the running from Specific Gravity, with Frankel coasting in behind under jockey Tom Queally.

First Specific Gravity dropped away and then Frankel breezed past Bullet Train as though he wasn’t there, powering clear and coming home in splendid isolation, bringing back memories of his extraordinary QIPCO 2000 Guineas victory on the track a year ago.

He returned to the winner’s enclosure to tremendous applause where his delighted connections were waiting.

Queally said: "He had a nice little blow and we are all delighted, it’s exactly what we were looking for.

"I was happy with him. The last time I’d sat on him was York and it was great to sit on him again.

"He worked well and seemed as good as ever which would be good enough."

His trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, was on hand to supervise the work and added: "I’m going fine, I read someone saying I was going to retire but the only retiring I’m going to be doing is a good holiday.

"Frankel had a good blow this morning but this is not D-day.

"I don’t think running in the Moulin would have achieved anything and this was ideal and I’d think the Champion Stakes will be his last race.

"The Prince (his owner, Prince Khalid Abdulla) will make the decision but at the moment that is the idea."