Despite never having raced beyond one mile, "TDN Rising Star" Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) didn't give connections, nor his burgeoning fan club, a moment's worry when streaking to yet another mighty impressive triumph in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International S. at York. Forty years after the great Brigadier Gerard (GB) met with his only career defeat on the Knavesmire, Juddmonte's World Champion avoided the same fate with a stunning seven-length victory over Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who edged St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) by a nose, to extend his winning streak to 13, and his aggregate winning margin to 76 lengths, in the track's Ebor Festival feature.
Slowest from the gate and slotting into seventh behind a fast early tempo, the 1-10 favorite cruised effortlessly to the fore on the bridle entering the final quarter mile and jockey Tom Queally's only work was to gather the reins twice for the wonder horse to scoot clear into a tunnel of rapturous applause from the 20,000-strong crowd. He was greeted by emotional scenes in the winner's circle, too, where trainer Sir Henry Cecil was on hand--after further treatment for his ongoing illness--to welcome back his unbeaten protégé.
"That was great for Yorkshire, as the crowd is very supportive of racing, and they deserved to see him," whispered a visibly frail Cecil. "It makes me feel 20 years better."
Wednesday, York, Britain
JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL S.-G1, £725,000, York, 8-22, 3yo/up, 10f 88ydsT, 2:06.59, gd/fm.
1--FRANKEL (GB), 131, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Kind (Ire) (MSW-Eng & GSP-Ire), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Rainbow Lake (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Rockfest, by Stage Door Johnny
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms; T-Sir Henry Cecil; J-Tom Queally; £411,148. Lifetime Record: Co. Ch. 2yo-Eur, Co-Hwt. 2yo-Eng, Ch. 3yo Colt-Eur, Hwt. 3yo Colt-Eng at 7-9.5f, Horse of the Year-Eur 13-13-0-0, £2,261,072. *3/4 to Bullet Train (GB) (Sadler's Wells), GSW-Eng, $118,732; Full to Noble Mission (GB), GSW-Eng, $161,331. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Farhh (GB), 131, c, 4, Pivotal (GB)--Gonbarda (Ger), by Lando (Ger). O-Godolphin; B-Darley; T-Saeed bin Suroor; £155,875.
3--St Nicholas Abbey (Ire), 131, h, 5, Montjeu (Ire)--Leaping Water (GB), by Sure Blade. (200,000gns yrl '08 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barton Bloodstock & Villiers Syndicate; T-Aidan O'Brien; £78,010.
Margins: 7, NO, 6. Odds: 1-10, 10-1, 5-1.
Also Ran: Twice Over (GB), Bullet Train (GB), Sri Putra (GB), Planteur (Ire), Robin Hood (Ire), Windsor Palace (Ire).
Click for brisnet.com pps, brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree or Racing Post chart. Video, courtesy Racing UK.
Frankel's ongoing domination of Britain's miling scene had seen him equal Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) (Danehill)'s European record of seven straight Group 1 scores with victory in the Aug. 1 G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood last time, and he claimed that record outright with yet another imperious performance stepped up to an extended 10 furlongs for the first time here. Caught blinking as the gates were flung open, he was swiftly slotted into seventh by Tom Queally as Ballydoyle's rabbit contingent of Robin Hood (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Windsor Palace (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) usurped usual pacemaker and 3/4-brother Bullet Train (GB) (Sadler's Wells) for the lead, although the latter was ideally placed as a reference point in third for much of the contest. The pace was strong and it was carried through into the half-mile straight where the protaganists began to close on the waning leaders. Queally sat motionless as Frankel made a beeline for the stands' side rail while cruising onto the heels of the front rank with three furlongs remaining. The powerful bay was still hard on the steel entering the final quarter mile and little more than a quick check of the steering gear was sufficient encouragement from the saddle for him to bound clear of toiling rivals yet again. "I suspected they would go a good gallop, so we had our plan in place," explained Queally. "[Jockey] Eddie [Ahern] did a good job on Bullet Train and it all panned out nicely. I gave them enough of a lead for the pace they were going, he won ever so well and I'm delighted to be part of it. He's certainly as good over 10 furlongs as he is over a mile, and it was a fantastic training performance by Sir Henry." The latter sentiment was echoed by Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe, who added, "That was absolutely fantastic. For Sir Henry and the team to bring Frankel to York in such great shape. It is a brilliant crowd which has appreciated him and then for the horse to perform as he did is an absolute dream. We're all living the dream."
