Frankel seals his place in the history books

FRANKEL confirmed his status at the world’s top racehorse when taking his tally to 14 wins from 14 starts with a scintillating victory in the Quipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
A very special horse, Frankel has captured the hearts of racing fans everywhere since he made his debut in a two-year-old maiden at Newmarket in August 2010 and few who were present that day could have envisaged the heights the Khalid Abdulla-owned son of Galileo would subsequently scale.
Saturday was Frankel’s swansong and the packed enclosures of Ascot really got behind Sir Henry Cecil’s wonder horse who was cheered before, during and after a race that, ironically, wasn’t the most straightforward of his career.
Slow to jump once the stalls opened, Frankel’s jockey Tom Queally found himself a little further back than he would have liked aboard the 2/11 favourite, but he didn’t panic as he allowed Frankel make up the ground at his own pace.
Pacemaker and stable companion Bullet Train and his jockey Ian Mongan were wondering where the hot-pot was with Mongan looking around as he tried to get a handle on what was happening in his slipstream.
Waterford-born Queally is a cool customer, however and never got flustered as he kept Frankel balanced on what was the worst ground he had ever run on. Heading towards the home turn, French raider Cirrus Des Aigles took over from Bullet Train and opted to test Frankel when setting sail for home under top rider Oliver Peslier.
It was evident, however, that Frankel was closing in with real intent on the front pair and, when Queally gave his mount the nod just outside the furlong pole, Frankel swept to the front and stayed on in his familiar powerful style to beat Cirrus De Aigles by a length and three-quarters.
In some ways, justice had been done as this was the result everybody wanted to see. Frankel is a once in a lifetime horse and his army of fans wanted the best horse in the world to go out on a high. A sell-out 32,000 crowd packed Ascot on Saturday as Frankel brought his career earnings to over 3 million pounds and he now heads to stud where one of the all-time greats is sure to be in huge demand.
What a boost Frankel has been for his trainer Sir Henry Cecil? The master of Warren Place has had his ups and downs over the past decade and until Frankel came along, it appeared as if his star was on the wane. Throw in the fact that Cecil has been undergoing treatment for stomach cancer over the past few years and it’s easy to see why the ‘Frankel Story’ is bordering on fairytale stuff.
An emotional Cecil declared, “He’s the best I’ve ever had. He’s the best I’ve ever seen. In fact, I’d be surprised if there will ever be better. He didn’t like the big crowd today but is getting more relaxed and looked really well. He’s been an exceptional horse and it’s been a pleasure to be associated with him.”
Frankel has also been huge success story for his jockey Tom Queally, who has ridden to all of his 14 wins and he acknowledged the part he has played in career to-date.
He said, “No doubt Frankel is better on better ground but he showed his undoubted class today. I walked the track before racing and I was genuinely worried about the conditions, but after walking home straight,  I knew it wasn’t too soft for him to go about his business and quicken up to win. He’s been a very special horse for me and I doubt I’ll ever find one as good as him again.”
Meanwhile, top jockey Frankie Dettori has announced he has ended his association with Godolphin.
The Italian-born maestro has split after a successful 18-year association with the Sheikh Mohammed-led operation, which yielded nine classic wins for the 41-year-old.
Dettori, who will now ride as a freelance, had his first ride for seven years for Godolphin’s main rivals Coolmore when partnering the unplaced Camelot for Aidan O’Brien in the Prix De L’Arc at Longchamp recently.

Curtain comes down at Ballybrit

GALWAY’S 2013 season will come to a close over the Bank Holiday Weekend with their two-day meeting on Sunday and Monday set to attract big crowds to the popular western venue.
Racing on Sunday kicks off at the earlier time of 1.35 with the feature race, the Ballybrit Novice Chase, set to be a cracker.
Fourteen horses have been entered for this two-mile, one-furlong €30,000 contest with Gordon Elliott’s exciting recruit Mount Benbulben among them.
He was due to make his debut over the larger obstacles in a begginners’ event at Tipperary on Monday but the chase track at the Limerick Junction course was deemed unfit for racing.
Mount Benbulben carries the colours of leading owner Barry Connell and, while he disappointed when only seventh to the ill-fated Brindisi Breeze in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last March, the manner of his success over the highly-rated Rebel Fitz in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan last November suggests he could go right to the top.
Sunday’s test is by no means straightforward, however, with the likes of Willie Mullins’ Twinlight, who won a novice chase at Listowel with ease and Noel Meade’s Gowran Park winner Protaras sure to provide stiff opposition.
Monday’s Bank Holiday card kicks off at 1.05 with the two-mile, six-furlong Ballybrit Handicap Chase topping what is a very attractive card.
On the point-to-point front, last Sunday’s Kilmoganny Hunt meeting at Cregg, near Carrick-on-Suir, had the stage all to itself as the only meeting of the weekend and attracted a big turnout to the County Tipperary venue.
Action on track was competitive with Ted Walsh’s Battlefront making the perfect return when taking the open lightweight for lady riders under the Kildare trainer’s daughter, Katie.
Unbeaten in eight starts last season, the 10-year-old by Pistolet Bleu was sent off 1/2 favourite to make a winning seasonal debut and he duly did when quickening clear from three out to beat the Annie Bowles-ridden Nedzer’s Return by two lengths.
The winner will continue to contest open lightweights for the rest of the season with the Foxhunters at Liverpool in April his ultimate target.