Frankel, officially the world’s best thoroughbred racehorse, returns to the racetrack for the third year on Saturday 19 May in the Group 1 JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse.
He’ll take on a maximum of eight opponents.
After winning all four of his races as a two-year-old in 2010, including the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Frankel proved himself by far the best three-year-old of his generation in 2011.
His victories last year included an incredible triumph in the 2000 Guineas – a performance described as “one of the greatest displays on a British racecourse” – and a powerful race in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day.
Some commentators are even speculating that Frankel might be the best horse to race in Britain since the legendary Eclipse who, in the 1760s, won 18 races and coined the expression ‘Eclipse first and the rest nowhere’. (Keen readers might spot this website is named after the same!)
Here are ten reasons why he’s a cut above the rest:
In the last two seasons, Frankel has raced nine times – and remains unbeaten.
His sire is multiple-champion stallion, Galileo, whilst his dam, Kind, won high-class races before she became a broodmare.
He is in the care of 10 times champion trainer Sir Henry Cecil in Newmarket on behalf of his owner and breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah.
He stands 16 hands 1 high, or just under five feet, which is large for a racehorse.
He’s the most valuable horse on the planet, estimated to be worth £100 million once he retires to stud.
Some Newmarket gallop-watchers reported that he outpaced the Cambridge to Newmarket train during one workout last year.
His starting price on his debut was 7–4, but the bookies haven’t taken that risk again, making Frankel odds-on in all his other races.
His accumulated winning distances in his nine races are 45.5 lengths, or an average of 5.4 lengths.
He is named after legendary American trainer Bobby Frankel.
His career earnings top £1.3 million.
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…
