FRANKEL HONOURED AT 2012 CARTIER RACING AWARDS

Frankel - Cartier Horse of the Year
(Photo : Irish Examiner)

CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Dorchester Hotel, London
13 November 2012

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s recently retired, unbeaten Frankel (GB) (Galileo) has been named Cartier Horse of the Year for a second straight year at London’s Dorchester Hotel. The homebred 4-year-old also emerged victorious in the Cartier Older Horse category, and the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit was awarded to ‘Team Frankel,’ which includes all those who contributed to the horse’s development at Juddmonte Farms in Britain and Ireland, plus those assembled by Sir Henry Cecil to train him.

“All of us at Warren Place are thrilled that Frankel’s achievements this year have been recognised with him winning this most prestigious award for the second time running,” commented trainer Sir Henry Cecil, who was unable to attend the ceremony. “Frankel, with his brilliance, has been a great ambassador for British racing and has captured the hearts of so many people, some of whom have never been racing in their lives. Thank you Frankel, and to everyone that has voted for him.”

In the Horse of the Year category, Frankel triumphed over three-time Classic winner Camelot (GB) (Montjeu), Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top), Excelebration (Ire) (Exceed and Excel) and Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo).

Australian superstar Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit), whose unbeaten streak of 22 wins includes Royal Ascot’s G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, won the Cartier Sprinter award. Camelot, winner of the G1 2000 Guineas, G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby, held sway in the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt award, while G1 Nassau Stakes victress The Fugue (GB) (Dansili) gained the Cartier 3-Year-Old Filly award. Godolphin runners dominated the juvenile categories with the unbeaten G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and G1 Dewhurst Stakes-winning Dawn Approach (Ire) (New Approach) bagging the colts’ division, and unbeaten G1 Fillies’ Mile victress Certify (Elusive Quality) winning the fillies’ title. Godolphin earned a third prize on the night with G1 Gold Cup hero Colour Vision (Fr) (Rainbow Quest) taking the honours in the Cartier Stayers category.

“Frankel lit up all our lives with his magnificent performances in 2012 and during the previous two years,” commented Cartier’s racing consultant Harry Herbert. “He is the most successful horse in the 22-year history of the Cartier Racing Awards and that is no surprise given his domination of so many races. Sir Henry Cecil thinks there has never been a better racehorse and tonight we celebrate Frankel’s achievements and those of the team behind him.”

The Cartier Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. They are determined by points earned by horses in pattern races throughout 2012, combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists and votes from readers of Britain’s Racing Post and Daily Telegraph.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

RIDING HIGH

Click above to watch Toronado winning the Champagne Stakes (Gr2)
(Photo : The Guardian - Footage : At The Races)

CHAMPAGNE STAKES (Gr2)
Doncaster, Turf, 1408m
15 September 2012

On the face of it, the hitherto unbeaten colt Dundonnell, who like Frankel belongs to Prince Khalid Abdullah, looked like the top English juvenile seen out thus far. As a result, they went to Doncaster on Saturday for the long-honoured Champagne Stakes (Gr.2) with Dundonnel as the 5-6 favourite, and the outcome, like Camelot’s Triple Crown bid, was thought to be a formality. Nobody had factored in another unbeaten colt, Toronado though, who like our own new stallion acquisition, Golden Sword, shares a fatherly connection in their sire High Chaparral.

We shouldn’t forget at this stage, that High Chaparral became the first stallion since his own illustrious sire, Sadler’s Wells, to get six Group One winners in his first crop, so this is not altogether unexpected, though you wouldn’t associate him necessarily with precocious two-year-olds, and while this fellow is obviously already very good, it seems he will be better next year.

Allowed to stride to the front from the gate, Toronado was able to wind up the tempo to suit himself, and despite the looming presence of the giant favourite inside the final furlong, stayed in control for the drive to the line. “I’ve always thought he was a good horse, but I can only go on feel, and today he’s proved it” jockey Richard Hughes commented. “I was in a ‘catch twenty two situation’, as this horse needs a mile, but I wasn’t going to go fast enough to set it up for the rest, yet at the same time not going that fast, wouldn’t suit me either. He has a lovely way of galloping, a beautiful action and it’s a pleasure to be on him”. Trainer Richard Hannon Jnr elaborated “He did it very well, and he’s a lovely big horse who will grow into himself and will be one for next year”. It seems his next target will be the Racing Post Trophy (Gr.1) at Doncaster, which has been the forerunner to a stream of Derby winners in Galileo, High Chaparral, Sir Percy, Motivator, Sea The Stars, Workforce, Pour Moi and Camelot in recent times.

FRANKEL... FRANKLY SUPERIOR.

Sir Henry Cecil and Frankel
(Photo : Daily Mail)

JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL STAKES (Gr1)
York, Turf, 2090m
22 August 2012

St Nicholas Abbey is a good horse, his three Group One victories are testimony to that. And that puts Frankel’s annihilation of yesterday’s Juddmonte International (Gr.1) field into perspective. We said it would be a tactical race, and the only thing that remained to be tested of Frankel’s spectacular powers, was his stamina. Team Coolmore brought along two others besides “St Nic” to subject the champion’s stamina to its most severe test to date, and that was evident when Robin Hood stormed to the front, spotting Frankel’s own half brother and pacemaker Bullet Train, a few lengths in the process. Meanwhile, trailing near the back of the field, Frankel tracked Joseph O’Brien aboard St Nicholas Abbey, whose connections obviously felt that a couple of lengths start turning for home up York’s punishing straight, would be a useful advantage.

There are those that would argue that St Nicholas Abbey has never quite lived up to his Coolmore billing, and that this was evident in the fact that he was unable to put away the Godolphin colour bearer, Farhh, but that doesn’t get away from the fact that St Nic is a multiple Group One winner, and he’s earned that status at the expense of some cracking horses. Yes, he’s no Camelot, and this race might’ve been two furlongs shorter than this optimum, but that’s not the point. Throughout the race, Frankel’s jockey Tom Queally was playing the predator. Everyone knew what he was going to do to St Nicholas Abbey. St Nic is pretty, Frankel is a killer. Ears pricked, Frankel broke his adversary’s heart in the straight. Quickly, clinically.

The real point is that in an instant, Frankel had paralysed a Group One field in a matter of strides, and if ever anyone harboured any doubts about his stamina, they were put away over the next two furlongs, as the greatest horse we’ve seen in our lifetimes, strode to an imperious seven length victory, ridden with no greater urging from his rider than his hands and heels and the odd tap down the neck. That he was easing down at the end with three Group One winners in his wake, was the most emphatic and convincing evidence that he is the greatest ever, and it might be another lifetime or two before his equal comes along, if ever. For the record, in compiling a perfect thirteen-for-thirteen, Frankel has put a phenomenal 76 lengths between himself and those that have chased him home, an average winning distance of six lengths per outing.

Frankel’s victory was a triumph of several things. Firstly, it gives hope to those who believe the world will get better. It also fuels the fire of those who like to see order. If racing were first of all an industry, it would be more rational. The corporate world likes good order and forecasts that come true; it thrives on yields and cost effectiveness. Racing is not rational and is seldom cost effective, but Frankel reminded us yesterday, that very occasionally a rare athlete can bring order, vindication and pots of money to those who invest in it. Even the business report on Sky News seemed impressed.

Secondly, it was a triumph of a man over adversity. Frankel’s trainer, Sir Henry Cecil and his twin brother David, are widely believed to be the illegitimate sons of what racing calls the “first” Aga Khan. Cecil was, in his “first” life as a trainer, an extraordinary talent who married the daughter of another equestrian genius, Sir Noel Murless. He had as his patrons the rich and the famous, the landed and the titled. Simultaneously almost, his marriage collapsed, his patrons deserted and he dissolved into an alcoholic haze. Suddenly, he went from champion trainer to “also-ran”. That he stood where he did in York’s Winner’s Circle yesterday, is a tribute to the man, and especially to the adage that where there’s hope, there’s a chance. Racing is a game which is never short of hope, and if there’s one thing its fans enjoy more than a fairytale ending, it’s a great comeback.

Just as flawed people are most times more interesting than saints, so that the outrageous Randolph Churchill always seemed a richer character than his canonised father, so the turf and its people fascinate, quirky and fickle, high-browed and low-browed, it combines the romantic and the tawdry, the glory of a Frankel with the sadness of the passing of a Big City Life.

And finally, this was a timely reminder that, unlike other businesses, no matter your resources, racing is a game which has room for us all. Admittedly Frankel’s owner is man of considerable means, but he is his own man, a competitor, a perfectionist, and a bloody good breeder. Despite the presence in the field of the properties of the leviathans of the game, Frankel has stood his ground manfully. Nay, not manfully; masterfully, and in the process, he has conferred on his owner immortality.

Inevitably, the question is asked about his value, and what his opening stud fee will be when he finally retires. Despite the recession, notwithstanding the gloom-and-doom the Northern Hemisphere wakes to every day, here is something to cheer the hearts of anyone with an appreciation of greatness: he will go to stud the most valuable racehorse the world has known. Of course, it’s highly unlikely he will ever be sold; he is the property of a very rich man, and while that same man was tempted to dispose of the bulk of his interests in Danehill, we doubt he will repeat that mistake twice. For what it’s worth, we would think he would command a fee for openers very close to that of his own illustrious father, Galileo, who stands at €300,000, no questions asked. On that basis, he must be worth somewhere between €250 and €300 million. He has the pedigree, he has the godly good looks, and there’s never been his equal on a racecourse. It would take at least that to tempt Prince Khalid Abdullah into even entertain anything of the sort.

CITYSCAPE BREAKS COURSE RECORD IN DUBAI DUTY FREE

Click above to watch Cityscape winning the Dubai Duty Free (G1)…
(Image : Oliver Clarke/Gulf News - Footage : Dubai Racing Meydan)

US$5,000,000 DUBAI DUTY FREE (Group 1)
Meydan, Turf, 1800m
31 March 2012

In the lead up to Saturday’s G1 Dubai Duty Free over 1800m at Meydan, there was at least some question as to how, or rather whether, Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk) would A: see out the 1800 meters of the race at his first attempt and B: handle reasonably quick ground.

The lightly raced chestnut with the big bald face answered in no uncertain terms, streaking clear from pacesetting Await The Dawn (USA) (Giant’s Causeway) in the upper stretch before reporting home an easy 4 1/4-length winner. “I can’t believe it,” commented winning trainer Roger Charlton. “The race panned out absolutely as we thought it would. Await The Dawn weakened pretty quickly to leave us in front plenty early enough, but that wasn’t a problem.”

A well-beaten eighth at 50-1 in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville August 15, Cityscape was far too good for his rivals in the G3 Solonaway Stakes at The Curragh September 11, winning by 2 1/2 lengths in the soft. Shipped to Milan for the G1 Gran Premio Vittorio di Capua 13 days later, he missed by a nose to the top-class Dick Turpin (Ire) (Arakan), then relished the soft going at Saint-Cloud to land the G3 Prix Perth October 30. Connections had the misfortune of drawing the 12 hole for the G1 Hong Kong Mile December 11, but despite racing five wide on the turn, nearly got the job done while failing by a nose.

Cityscape was away smartly from the 11 hole, and jockey James Doyle used his mount just a touch to get over to be forwardly placed three wide, as Await The Dawn settled into an easy pace up front. Given a bit more rein as they approached the turn, the 6-year-old tugged his way past Musir (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice) up into second, and, by the time they’d reached the 700-meter marker, Cityscape was sent to the head of affairs. Shaken up at the quarter pole while traveling best of anything, he quickened clear and was never in any danger while establishing a new course record. The Mike de Kock-trained Mutahadee (Ire) (Encosta De Lago) and Mahmoud Al Zarooni-trained City Style (USA) (City Zip) completed an outstanding run at the Carnival, finishing second and third, respectively.

“This horse has an amazing turn of foot,” the winning jockey said. “He just kept finding; he was even idling a little in the closing stages. It was a great feeling and the biggest day in my life.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

DAZZLING DANEHILL

Danehill
(Photo : Racehorse HK)

DAZZLING DANEHILL

The dust has finally settled on Australia’s Magic Millions Premier Yearling sales marathon week, and once again it was a triumph for the greatest stallion in Southern Hemisphere history. If you did any advance work on the catalogue, you couldn’t help but notice the plethora of entries descended from Danehill in the first or second generation, to the point of virtual saturation. With the enormous books Australian stallions are serving these days, the catalogue is obviously dominated by his male descendants, and there’s no shortage of those who carry his influence on the distaff side, an amazing reflection of how quickly he has supplanted Star Kingdom as the principal source of quality racehorses Down Under.

Who would’ve thought that within little more than a decade, a stallion of the pervasive presence in their pedigrees such as Star Kingdom, would face the prospect of extinction as a male-line provider, given that for decades he carried that burden and shaped the Australian breed almost singlehandedly.

Students of the Danehill story would’ve been forgiven in the early years of his life as a “shuttler”, for believing that it was the suitability of his mates in Australasia that set him up for immortality, and especially those descending from Star Kingdom. In his initial years, Danehill’s mark as a stallion was undeniably Australian. The truth though, probably lies more in the fact that as a horse with obvious physical flaws and perhaps a little suspect on the performance side, he was considered surplus to requirements in Europe. His breeders, Juddmonte, do not lightly let a prospect go and it certainly wasn’t money that induced the sale. Juddmonte’s principal, Prince Khalid Abdullah, a first cousin to the King of Saudi Arabia, is not a man in need, but is one of the world’s foremost breeders of racehorses, and he was astute enough to retain a breeding interest in the horse he was parting with. In the end, Danehill was just as successful in the Northern Hemisphere, but only once European breeders came to appreciate his value, though in sheer numbers, his recognition there came much later in the day, and was therefore somewhat short-lived, as he died prematurely in 2003.

Anyone who knows Arrowfield’s John Messara as well as we do, would count him among the rare international visionaries of our sport, and when it comes to analysing and spotting a prospect, his record stands alone. This man bred Zabeel, he made Danehill and his three champion sons Redoute’s Choice, Flying Spur and Danzero, and his record as a “kingmaker” rivals that of Lord Derby, Federico Tesio and “Bull” Hancock. It didn’t take him long to identify the merits of this European champion sprinter of 1989, and it didn’t take Danehill long to sire the winner of the world’s richest two-year-old contest, Australia’s Golden Slipper. Indeed, it didn’t take him to long to sire his first three Golden Slipper winners; he did so in each of his first three crops, and while he did that in short time, his time at the top of Australia’s sire premiership was enduring.

No-one was surprised then, that the top lot at Aus $960,000 at last week’s Gold Coast sale, was a colt by Danehill’s son, Fastnet Rock, who in the same week, sired the winners of the New Zealand and Australian 1000 Guineas to boot. Neither was anyone surprised when the famous “split” between the original owners of Danehill, Messara’s Arrowfield and John Magnier’s Coolmore, made him the most valuable stallion in Australian history. The matter was settled in a Dutch auction before a former Chief Justice of Australia, and the horse was turned over at a reported $24million. That was a helluva lot of money in those days, but in retrospect, it was peanuts.

Read more about Danehill…