Glorious Goodwood

QIPCO Sussex Stakes

Frankel
Racehorse Photos

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Frankel’s owner Khalid Abdulla, said via telephone: “Frankel is definitely going to be the horse to beat - there is no doubt about that - but he still has to put his best foot forward. However, on the best form that he has shown he is going to be superior to most animals that turn up.

“It’s good news that Godolphin will supplement Farhh. We respect him as he was unlucky at Royal Ascot and ran a super race at Sandown in the Eclipse so he is a very legitimate horse.

When asked about the best horse he has seen run at Goodwood, Lord Grimthorpe replied: “Dancing Brave was before my management time, but I certainly him winning at Goodwood. He won the Select Stakes as his prep for the Arc and he had a nice victory which set him up beautifully for that victory at Longchamp in early October.

“Frankel on the other hand came here last year and really wanted to do the business and I was really impressed with the way he did it, especially from the front. There was no question of Canford Cliffs doing what he didn’t want to do at any stage and I thought Frankel put in a really powerful performance. He just kept increasing and increasing and it took him a long time to pull up afterwards.

“It was one of his best performances. We have been so spoilt with Frankel as he keeps putting in these incredible performances and so in of calibre of horse I am very biased - I don’t think I have seen anything like Frankel before.”

BHA handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill believes Frankel would need to step up in trip to 10 furlongs and prove himself against the likes of Cirrus Des Aigles in order to achieve a record BHA rating of 142.

Grimthorpe commented: “Frankel and Cirrus Des Aigles could certainly meet at York (in the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes.

“She has turned a corner after looking pretty disappointing earlier in the season and everyone seems much more pleased with her - she is working better and moving much better - so Sir Henry (Cecil) is very keen to go to the Nassau.”