Frankel favourite for 2,000 Guineas title - Horse Racing
Friday was the day of the Royal Wedding and it seems Saturday could be the day when a another king is crowned in the form of Frankel with the parade being the Qipco 2,000 Guineas on the track at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile.
Frankel was forced to share his title when rated the juvenile joint-champion last season. However, almost all spectators and observers involved in horseracing consider him the true owner of the crown and believe that it is only a matter of time before the
horse, trained by the great Henry Cecil, takes up the title for himself. The horse returned to action at Newbury about a fortnight ago.
Cecil is of the belief that the colt, who is owned by Khalid Abdullah and finished his preparations for the Guineas with a trot on the watered ground of Newmarket, has gained a lot from the experience of running in the Classic trial of the Totesport Greenham
Stakes. Speaking to reporters, Cecil said that Frankel is in tip-top shape at the moment and had his last practice run on the morning of Tuesday, which the trainer was rather content with.
Cecil said that the horse had done a lot during his run and he pleased the trainer with his fine performance on the grass at Newbury, especially since the horse had only raced on dry ground all of last year. Frankel has got himself some extremely loyal fans
as demonstrated by one bettor who place a ₤550,000 bet on him with Victor Chandler earlier this month. This forced his price down to be as short as 8-15, making him ready to set off as the shortest priced favourite since Apalachee was beaten at 2-9 in 1974.
Frankel rests at 7-4 with Blue Square to bag Saturday’s race with more than two lengths. Jockey Tom Queally has been given charge of Frankel for the race and although he is not feeling pressured, the flu which made him miss his last ride at Leicester on
Friday has not completely gone. Queally said that the ground will be much faster than any Frankel has raced on and he has confidence in the horse’s long strides to get him his first British Classic winner. Two formidable rivals to Frankel’s title are Pathfork
and Roderic O’Connor from across the Irish Sea. Craven Stakes winner Native Khan and Saamidd could also be potential threats.
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