The world’s best racehorse, Frankel, enjoyed little more than an exercise canter when winning the 12th race of his career in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on 1 August,
race five in the QIPCO British Champions Series Mile division, though his rating of 140, achieved when romping home by 11 lengths in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, will not be increasing.
The British Horseracing Authority Mile handicapper, Dominic Gardiner-Hill, said: “I’m sure that was exactly what his connections wanted – a stroll on the Downs before he tackles a longer trip for the first time at York in three weeks’ time.
“He went into the race with 32 pounds in hand of Gabrial and he has beaten him 9 ¼ lengths, so initial interpretation of that would be that Frankel ran to a mark in the high 120s or possibly 130 as he won so comfortably.
“To achieve the highest rating ever, he needs to run in a race where there’s greater strength in depth and I feel that he can only do that over ten furlongs.
“In his races over the last year, he’s really only ever had one horse to beat – Canford Cliffs in this race a year ago, Excelebration in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, JLT Lockinge and Queen Anne and Farhh this afternoon – but if the likes of Cirrus des Aigles, Nathaniel and St Nicholas Abbey take him on over ten furlongs, we should get a real handle on just how good he is.”
Winning trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, has gone clear third in the Trainer of the Series table with the 20 points he picks up for Frankel’s win, while Tom Queally has moved into second place in the Jockey of the Series table.
Allison is the Publisher of Eclipse Magazine. She loves going to the Races and is learning to bet (despite being officially the worst bettor in the History of the Universe), there’s a lot more to learn…
