Frankel in for the final outing in the Champion Stakes
Jockey, Tom Queally, will race the white, pink and green colours of owner, Khalid Abdullah, when racing the brilliant colt, Frankel, for the last time on 20th October at Ascot in the Champion Stakes.
Only if he knew what he has achieved over the years, and how exactly has that popularity weaved its way into the hearts of millions of horse racing fans. A standing ovation from the flooding stands of the Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket after the 13
out of 13 clean runner completed his gallop is something that the trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, will miss.
"It's amazing how many people came to see him,” commented the racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe.
Even if he trains through his heart and soul, it is impossible to trainer another ‘Frankel’. The Champion Stakes was the expected ending of the career for the officially best race horse in the world. The miler will put his impeccable record at risk for a
fourteenth time now, and there is a high probability that it will also be counted as the last time.
However, if it will be or not be the fourteenth in line success for Galileo’s bay colt out of, Kind, is not something very complicated to answer. The connections are overwhelmingly confident about the winning poise of their colt as usual.
Cecil said: "He had a nice blow - that was exactly what we wanted."
And jockey Tom Queally said: "He felt fine. That's exactly what we were looking for as there's still a bit [of time] to go."
"He's done something today to keep him up to speed and he's achieved it with the minimum of fuss.
"It was kind of Newmarket to allow us to come and Frankel has enjoyed himself."
After the race he will retire to stud duty, but his retirement is not definite as yet. Sir Henry Cecil has assured that the final decision of racing or retiring the highly regarded racing icon stays in the hands of the prince, Khalid Abdullah.
Cecil said: "I would think so, but the prince will make that decision."
Not many will want it to be Frankel’s final race and winning strides. Even four years down the line has not given the crowds and the fans what they still and will yearn for.
Tags: