Frankel reigns supreme at Goodwood

Frankel eases to victory in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood this afternoon. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The world’s best racehorse, Frankel, enjoyed little more than an exercise canter when winning the 12th race of his career in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood this afternoon, race five in the QIPCO British Champions Series Mile division.

Next stop will be the Juddmonte International Stakes at York three weeks’ today, his first race over a mile and a quarter.

Always travelling with supreme ease, he tracked his pacemaker, Bullet Train, before jockey Tom Queally allowed him to take up the running with two furlongs to run.

He was soon clear of his three toiling rivals and barely broke sweat to win by six lengths from Farhh, with Gabrial just over three lengths back in third and Bullet Train a further half length back in last place.

Queally said: "He is a class apart from any other horse around at the moment and it’s great to be a part of it.

"He is amazing. He had all the other horses cooked a little after half-way. This was a nice prep for his next race.

"He does it all very easily and therefore I have a very easy job – all I have to do is steer.

"This is a magic moment."

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Frankel’s owner, Prince Khalid Abdulla, said: "I think it’s hugely exciting that he’s stepping up in trip at York.

"It is a new challenge for Frankel. I think it’s what everyone wants to see him do and I think he’s ready for it."

Frankel’s rating of 140, achieved when romping home by 11 lengths in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, will not be increasing after today.

The British Horseracing Authority Mile handicapper, Dominic Gardiner-Hill, said: “I’m sure that was exactly what his connections wanted – a stroll on the Downs before he tackles a longer trip for the first time at York in three weeks’ time.

“He went into the race with 32 pounds in hand of Gabrial and he has beaten him 9 ¼ lengths, so initial interpretation of that would be that Frankel ran to a mark in the high 120’s or possibly 130 as he won so comfortably.

“To achieve the highest rating ever, he needs to run in a race where there’s greater strength in depth and I feel that he can only do that over ten furlongs.

“In his races over the last year, he’s really only ever had one horse to beat – Canford Cliffs in this race a year ago, Excelebration in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, JLT Lockinge and Queen Anne and Farhh this afternoon – but if the likes of Cirrus des Aigles, Nathaniel and St Nicholas Abbey take him on over ten furlongs, we should get a real handle on just how good he is.”

Tomorrow’s Series race is the Artemis Goodwood Cup in the Long Distance Division followed on Saturday by the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes in the Fillies & Mares category.