FRANKEL RUTHLESS IN QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS

Click above to watch Frankel winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1)
(Image : Sporting Life - Footage : Racing UK)

QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS (Grade 1)
30 April 2011

Some had cast similarities with the great Dubai Millennium (GB) prior to yesterday and Khalid Abdullah’s brilliant Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) lived up to all the hype and mass of expectation with a ruthless demonstration of galloping in the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Frankel had hinted at something special to come during a pioneering two-year-old campaign and in his warm-up run in the G3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury two weeks ago, but few expected this unprecedented show of superiority. In front from the outset, jockey Tom Queally let the 1-2 favorite - the shortest-priced since the beaten Apalachee in 1974 - use his impressive stride and he had buried all opposition before he reached the quarter pole. Only Dubawi Gold (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Native Khan (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) could emerge from the pack to chase after that in complete vain.

Bobby Frankel was a vital cog in the Juddmonte workings for a long time and it was always going to take an unusual specimen to be named after the hall-of- famer. From the first instance, the equine namesake showed that honor was not wasted on him and he went from a super-smooth introduction over a mile on the July Course here in August to display electric speed when following up in a seven-furlong conditions event at Doncaster September 10. Just 15 days later, he turned Ascot’s G2 Royal Lodge Stakes into a procession with a 10-length victory made even more extraordinary by a final-turn move which killed the contest. When his margin was only 2 1/4 lengths to Roderic O’Connor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes in October, it was almost an anti-climax and probably cost him the outright Juvenile Champion title which he shared with Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}).

After a perfect return in Newbury’s G3 Greenham Stakes a fortnight ago, Henry Cecil had stated at a press conference to launch the Champions’ Series this week that his colt could make his own running and that was the clearest indicator that his homework had hinted at something extraordinary to come. If his pacemaker Rerouted (Stormy Atlantic) ever actually led Frankel, it was for a matter of seconds as Tom Queally quickly established his intentions on the hot favourite which drew Frankie Dettori and Casamento (Ire) (Shamardal) into early action.

By the halfway mark, where his rider had a glance back, Godolphin’s G1 Racing Post Trophy winner was already beaten and those who had tried to stay relatively close were beginning to pay the price. His rider could not have heard anything coming inside the final quarter mile, but for safety, Frankel received some light slaps with the whip and maintained the momentum all the way to the finish.

“To win a Classic is special, and I’m glad that he did it like that, as the media were building him up to be something super-equine,” Queally added. “They were right. It would have been an anti-climax to win by a length. He loves galloping - they might have been expecting me to get cover, so I caught them on the hop. I know the horse and have a lot of confidence in him - it may have looked like I wasn’t hanging about, but he feels like he is doing it a lot steadier than he is. He showed a lot of speed today, and we learned that he is able to motor - in the last furlong he was just idling and it’s great to sit on something so great so early in my career.”

After greeting his third and most important Guineas winner, Henry Cecil added, “I think I might have actually got the plan wrong, as we had planned to kill them all with his gallop, but in the last furlong he was waiting for them,” said the conditioner, who was greeting his 25th British Classic winner and the widest-margin winner of the Guineas since Tudor Minstrel (GB) in 1947. “He had won his race and was wondering where everything else was, but we thought there was something left in the tank. Whether he’ll get a mile and a half is another matter.” Cecil continued, “It is a relief it’s gone right. He’s a very, very good horse and, while it’s difficult to compare with other generations and champions, he must be up there with them. I’ve got ideas, and we’ll sit and think and try and work it out, but he’s in the G2 Dante Stakes (at York May 12) and we’ll see how he comes out of this. We’ll leave all options open and if he’s very well, he could go there and I could easily bring him back to a mile afterwards for the G1 St James’ Palace Stakes (at Royal Ascot June 14), but I’ll discuss it with the Prince.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

FRANKEL : AWAITING THE BLOCKBUSTER

Henry Cecil and Frankel
(Photos : Guardian / Racing Diary)

DEWHURST STAKES (Gr1)

In the era of the ground-breaking Zenyatta, Sea the Stars and Goldikova, movie scripts to follow Seabiscuit and Secretariat are easy pickings at present.

There was the glimpse of another potentially notable racing story in the process of unveiling itself in the ethereal majesty of England’s Newmarket gallops last Friday morning. It revolves around a colt named after one of America’s great trainers who is looked after by one of Britain’s finest in Henry Cecil. Whether Khalid Abdullah’s Frankel (GB) (Galileo) will prove box-office hit or false dawn is the question of the moment, and the clock is ticking down to his first major test Saturday in the Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1) at Newmarket. That is when he will have to confirm the abundant promise of his three starts so far, with the first taken in a virtual canter and the next two - including Ascot’s Royal Lodge Stakes (Gr2) - won by an aggregate of 23 lengths.

Cecil is in his veteran stage now, although that is a tag that does not sit well with a character whose natural bonhomie, energy and humor have been his trademark down the years. Still in full working order is his yearning for the big stage, if not for him then for his horses. Standing out against the mirk on Warren Hill in black attire, the publicity-shy, but style-conscious maestro of the stables that adorn the top of these famous slopes was not playing to the cameras.

You never get used to the publicity,” Cecil said in the frank and self-effacing manner which may be what keeps the public, and particularly Newmarket’s racegoing faithful, firmly on his side.

Every time Warren Place outperforms the opposition in the great races, the reception reserved for him remains undiminished, and will be in evidence again if his new star in the ascendant can keep the dream alive on Saturday. Such generosity of public affection, which he has always commanded, seems to have intensified of late in recognition of the downturns of his life story.

With serious illness an unwelcome caller at Cecil’s door in recent times, his connection with Juddmonte’s eponymous tribute to the much-missed Bobby Frankel seems appropriate. At 67, Cecil certainly seems to be reinvigorated by the presence of his latest flame, who swings along confidently near the front of the string on the way to his effortless canter.

While the Dewhurst will perform its usual task of unlocking the secrets of the following year’s G1 2000 Guineas, there is already the spectre of Epsom’s blue riband hanging over all talk concerning Frankel.

It took a talent of the magnitude of Sea the Stars to end the 20 year wait for a colt to complete the famed Guineas-Derby double last year, but Cecil is keeping both feet on the ground on this matter.

DUBAI DEWHURST STAKES (GROUP 1)
NEWMARKET 7F 16 OCTOBER 2010
RACE CARD

#	Horse	Draw	OR	Jockey	Trainer
1	DREAM AHEAD	2	128	W Buick	David Simcock
2	FRANKEL	4	123	T Queally	Henry Cecil
3	GLOR NA MARA	5	-	K Manning	Jim Bolger
4	RODERIC O’CONNOR	6	-	J Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien
5	SAAMIDD	3	115	F Dettori	Saeed bin Suroor
6	WAITER’S DREAM	1	109	K Fallon	Brian Meehan

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

BOBBY FRANKEL : ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS

Bobby Frankel and Ginger Punch
(Photo : The Florida Horse/Slam)

OF BOBBY FRANKEL, HAPPY AND GINGER PUNCH

Few people in South Africa will know the late Bobby Frankel, but Americans will tell you, he was one of the all-time greats, and a rare inductee to their Hall of Fame, as a fabled trainer.

He passed away recently, and Mike Rogers (whom we deal with for Champion U.S. Breeders, Adena Springs and their founder, Frank Stronach) posted this piece on a man who clearly understood his priorities.

Leading up to the 2007 Breeders’ Cup at Monmouth Park, all of us in the Stronach Stable camp were excited at the prospect of Ginger Punch’s participation in the Ladies’ Classic. Five days out, I received a call from Bobby Frankel. In typical Bobby fashion, there was minimal small talk before he cut to the chase. He informed me that he would be unable to attend the Breeders’ Cup, going into detail regarding his dog Happy’s unfortunate medical condition and his decision to remain in California with her. My initial reaction was a simple “really?” Bobby asked me to respectfully relay the information to Mr. and Mrs. Stronach. I assured him that I would pass along the circumstances surrounding his decision to Frank and Frieda.

I immediately called Frank and relayed Bobby’s message. Frank’s response was identical to my own: “really?” Frank then requested that I get Bobby on the line so he could speak to him directly. I was apprehensive - my gut reaction was that the conversation would not go over very well with either of them.

I reached Bobby and told him that I had Frank on the line. It was easy to sense Bobby’s own apprehension with his simple, “Hi, Frank.” Following a pregnant pause, Frank said in the most caring voice, “Bobby, how’s your dog?” I gave a strong sigh of relief, and I’m certain Bobby did as well. Bobby went on to explain that his dog was not doing very well, and he was uncomfortable leaving her in California. After the two of them talked about Happy, Frank asked Bobby how Ginger Punch was doing. Bobby replied that she was ready to run the race of her life, and there was nothing more he could do for her. Frank finished the call, saying, AOK Bobby, you look after Happy and we’ll look after Ginger.”

I will always remember the feeling I had when I hung up after listening to two immensely successful, yet very misunderstood men. They each managed to show great respect for what was important to the other man.

Ginger Punch went on to run exactly as Bobby predicted. Her Breeders’ Cup victory was her crowning achievement and ultimately led to a coveted Eclipse Award. Happy lived a little while longer with Bobby close to her side, but ultimately succumbed to her illness. Bobby eventually acquired two new dogs. His choice of names was a very fitting tribute to one of the many champions that he trained during his remarkable Hall of Fame career: Ginger and Punch.

We will all miss him.

Mike Rogers

ARCHIPENKO poised for ARLINGTON MILLION

Archipenko and Kevin Shea tweak their armoury at Arlington Park
(Four Footed Photos)

Archipenko, the globe-trotting 4-year-old son of Kingmambo, who has won top-graded stakes in three countries in seven months, and who is trained by South African Champion Trainer, Mike de Kock, representing the formidable duo of Dr Ashley Parker and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum… will on Saturday do battle in an assault on the ‘fourth corner’ of the Thoroughbred World, the 26th renewal of the Arlington Million.

Chicago’s Sun Times reports that this bay colt, who is a son of the formidable stallion Kingmambo and is named for the Ukrainian sculptor Alexander Archipenko (1887-1964), was installed Wednesday as the 2-1 morning-line choice atop a field of eight. The Arlington Million is the 10th race on a 12-race card at Arlington Park.

As usual, also on the prestigious card will be the state’s only other Grade I thoroughbred tests: the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes and the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes. Bobby Frankel’s Precious Kitten is the 9-5 opening pick in the nine-distaff Beverly D., while Greg Fox’s blazing Tizdejavu (6-5) heads a field of nine in the Secretariat Stakes.

”We are going to see a marvelous day of racing,” said Arlington chairman emeritus Richard L. Duchossois, who later this month will mark the 25th anniversary of the week his initial ownership group took control of the northwest suburban oval.

”These are three extremely talented, competitive groups of horses.”

”I am very pleased with the way Archipenko has advanced toward the Arlington Million,” said trainer Mike de Kock, a native of South Africa who finished second in the Beverly D. last year with Irridescence. ”He normally saves his best for race days.”

That’s good news for the colt’s connections because he meandered seven furlongs in a snoozy 1:39 over a soft Arlington turf on Tuesday with a final quarter of 27 seconds. Afterward, jockey Kevin Shea - who will be riding for the first time in the United States - told attending media: ”Everything was good. The turf was riding soft, but I could feel his well-being as he moved over it.”

Opponents have consistently felt Archipenko’s well-being on his most recent race days. He has won three of his last four starts, including the Group II Summer Miles Stakes last month at Ascot, the Group I Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April at Hong Kong’s Sha Tin and the Grade II Al Fahidi Fort on February 21 at Nad al Sheba in Dubai.

Archipenko drew Post 1 - not the most advantageous slot in the wide-ovaling Arlington Million. He is expected to face his most formidable challenges from 5-2 second pick Mount Nelson, trained by the legendary Aidan O’Brien, and Helen Pitts’ brilliantly versatile Einstein (7-2).

Mount Nelson has been a gem of inconsistency while going against many of Europe’s best middle-distance horses. The son of the stellar miler Rock of Gibraltar has won only three of eight career starts, including one of his last five. But that last victory came in the Group I Coral-Eclipse Stakes in July at Sundown Park, and that was enough for Aidan O’Brien to book trans-Atlantic passage to Arlington.

Einstein is the lowest-priced of the five American-based starters in the Arlington Million. Under the astute tutelage of Helen Pitts, the Brazilian-bred has consistently contended on the grass and dirt up and down the eastern seaboard. The son of Spend a Buck won the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Derby Day at Churchill Downs, then finished second to Curlin in the Grade I Stephen Foster six weeks later in Louisville.

”I don’t think we could be coming into the Arlington Million much better,” Helen Pitts said.

“Be sure to catch all the racing action on Tellytrack (DSTV Channel 232). Coverage of all three Grade 1 races will start with the $400 000 Secretariat Stakes at 10.12pm, the $750 000 Beverly D. Stakes at 10.50pm and the Arlington Million at 11.44pm.”

AIDAN O'BRIEN closing in on BOBBY FRANKEL'S World Record

Aidan O’Brien with Solskjaer
(Summerhill Stud)

Aidan O’Brien is eight wins short of Bobby Frankel’s world record for most Group/Grade One wins in a single season, but looking ever closer, the Ballydoyle maestro is currently one day ahead of the schedule.

Franco Raimondi reports for the European Bloodstock News that Halfway To Heaven recorded the 17th Gr.1 win this year for Aidan O’Brien in the Nassau Stakes on Saturday. Bobby Frankel reached the same point in his record season of 2003 one day later – 3^rd August – when Peace Rules scored a wire-to-wire win over Sky Mesa and Funny Cide in the Haskell Invitational.

Can Aidan O’Brien beat Bobby Frankel’s record? The answer is up to the juveniles. Aidan O’Brien set his personal best – and a European record – in 2001 when he won 22 of the 78 Gr.1’s run in Europe, plus the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Johannesburg. In that glorious season, Aidan O’Brien scored 11 times at Gr.1 level with his two-year-olds. Johannesburg  was responsible for four of those wins but Rock of Gibraltar made a strong contribution with successes in the Dewhurst Stakes and the Grand Criterium, while Hawk Wing and Quarter Moon kept the National Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes at home. Notably, at the same stage of the 2001 season, Aidan O’Brien had just 10 Gr.1 wins in his pocket.

If the 2006 crop of Ballydoyle ensures a handful of Gr.1 wins, Bobby Frankel’s record could be beaten. The Brooklyn-born but California-based Bobby Frankel deserved all credit for his unbelievable 2003 season. He won 25 Gr.’s with 15 different horses and ten of them were previously trained by such great professionals as Henry Cecil and Andre Fabre.

Well known as a specialist with grass horses coming from Europe, Bobby Frankel also had fantastic results with his three-year-olds, topped by Empire Maker – who crushed Funny Cide’s Triple Crown dream in the Belmont Stakes and won three Gr.’s – as well as Peace Rules. He developed Aldebaran into a top sprinter/miler on dirt and snatched two of three gems of the New York Fillies’ Triple Tiara with Spoken Fur. Will Aidan O’Brien beat the record? The ball is in the court of Mastercraftsman and co.

Watch Halfway To Heaven winning the Gr1 Nassau Stakes 2008