Fast Results

Scores

Racecards

What's your favourite Frankel moment?

Let's talk about...your favourite moment from the legend that is Frankel

By David Ord

Horse Racing

Tue April 21, 2020 · 5y ago

David Ord picks out his favourite Frankel moment - and it wasn't the 2000 Guineas. Read his verdict and share your own memories.

David Ord has several fond memories of Frankel but cites his stunning Queen Anne romp as his favourite. Now we want your feedback! What were your favourite Frankel moments? Check out details of how to contact us towards the foot of the article.

David Ord - That Queen Anne

Go on then. Select your own favourite Frankel moment and let us know why.

There are so many to go at. My own journey with the great horse started with the Frank Whittle Partnership Conditions Stakes at Doncaster on September 10th, 2010. The 13 lengths demolition of Rainbow Springs was visually stunning.

It may have been a case of style over substance that day – but his career wasn’t. So what is top?

How can't it be the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and that quite frankly ridiculous victory over Dubawi Gold and Native Khan? Horses simply don’t go ten lengths clear at halfway in a Guineas and maintain the remorseless gallop. It was jaw-dropping stuff.

Sir Henry Cecil with Frankel at Royal Ascot

So was his win in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next time but the wow factor was missing. He was keen here, very keen, and while six lengths clear two out, scrambled home by three-quarters of a length from Zoffany.

Sir Henry Cecil and Tom Queally’s reaction afterwards were as if he’d been beaten and I well remember Chris McGrath muttering to me as we left the press room “they’re going to ruin this horse if this carries on”.

It didn’t.

The vote for most memorable moment almost went to his facile victory over Farhh and St Nicholas Abbey in the Juddmonte International at York. It was the five strides two out when, having settled like a lamb for Tom Queally, he swept to the front by the stands’ rails. Pure class in against proven Group One performers.

But for my own personal highlight I have to head back to the 2012 Queen Anne Stakes.

Queen Anne Stakes, Royal Ascot, 2012

Now there was a a Royal Ascot to savour. Black Caviar had grabbed at least as many headlines as the home legend in the build-up and was waiting in the wings as he headed to post for the very first race of the meeting.

She’d have winced had she seen what was happening on the track at 2.30pm on that glorious summer's afternoon as the now five-year-old produced the ultimate performance of controlled aggression to sluice to the front two out and thunder 11 lengths clear of Excelebration.

He ran the sixth furlong in 10.58 seconds, a faster time than any of the crack sprinters recorded during the King’s Stand Stakes later in the afternoon, and he was almost back to the start by the time Tom Queally managed to pull him up.

With the eyes of the racing world on him it was a stunning “follow that” message to those who dared try to steal at least some of his limelight that week.

Frankel is in a league of his own in the Queen Anne

Send us your views

Send your favourite Frankel moment and other contributions to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks please let us know.

Feedback from readers

Alan Farnsworth: It’s almost impossible to choose one from so many fabulous Frankel performances. I was lucky enough to be present when he pulverised the opposition in the Queen Anne and Juddmonte and at both his victories in the Sussex Stakes, the second of which was little more than a facile workout. However, for drama and tension, his first Goodwood, the Duel on the Downs in 2011, was very different. There were some doubters after Frankel’s Ascot run, where also the top class and in form Canford Cliffs had lowered the colours of the mighty three times Breeders Cup Mile winner Goldikova, closely but decisively. The opposition couldn’t be much tougher.

The parade ring before the race was quiet, I certainly had “butterflies”, like many I suspect. This was going to be no pushover. Nerves – yes!

The race shaped as expected, Canford Cliffs stalking Frankel waiting to pounce – two furlongs to go - the question about to be asked.... Simon Holt’s superb commentary for Channel 4 (recorded to relive later), words and emotion, said it to perfection - ”and Frankel is pouring it on..... oh this is a brilliant horse”. A stunning and sustained turn of foot proved just irresistible. Canford Cliffs, possibly injured, but a champion miler in his own right, put firmly in his place, 5 lengths the margin. Frankel – status confirmed – sensational.

What a reception followed for Frankel – and connections.

What a day. What an experience. Unforgettable!

John Wilsher: My Frankel moment was not in a race but in his warm up racecourse gallop at Newmarket in September 2012, before his last race at Ascot’s Champion Stakes.

A large crowd gathered to witness it. And what did we see? A demonstration of what a thoroughbred race horse can really do. It is said that horses don’t have facial expressions like humans...they do. Frankel’s said ‘I was born to gallop and I do it better than anyone else.’

And who could argue with Sir Henry at York when he said, ‘The best I’ve ever had. The best I’ve ever seen. I would be very surprised if there’ll ever be a better.’ Put more eloquently than I could manage.

Michael Presho: Never so Frankel race but had the pleasure of one August monday morn before he went to York for the juddmonte of being on warren hill were he worked with Bullet train stood beside us on warren hill was Sir Henry when the guy who was with us said to Henry nice to see exellabration win in France yesterday Henry just turned and said . MAKES MY FELLA LOOK A GOOD ONE DOESNT IT . GREAT EXPERIENCE

Nigel Beardsley: Like you, Dave, I was at Doncaster that September. And it was one of the most impressive performances I`ve seen from a juvenile.

Fast forward to the following Spring and the 2000 Guineas. He was, of course, a worthy favourite, but that performance was breathtaking. For me there was just one drawback. I had placed a wager with my mate Shaun Cowan, a local independent bookie of good repute and my bet was that Frankel would win doing handstands. Sadly he failed to launch into a series of handstands in the last ¼ mile (maybe he decided it was unsafe, given the pace at which he was travelling) but to Shaun`s credit, he paid out.

To see Frankel demolish a high class field and make no mistake, it was just that, in that manner from start to finish was incredible to witness. Surely he would begin to tire after 5 furlongs, but no, on and on he went. A monster of a horse.

And I had a monster Summer, also backing Pour Moi in The Derby. Another scintillating display which I watched on TV with my son, to whom I had preached Pour Moi and as they approached Tattenham Corner with Pour Moi almost plumb last I recall saying to my son “Well he is a speed horse” and him replying “He (expletive removed) needs to be!”. So another amazing display, which for me falls second only to Frankel.

Dave Chapman: This greatest horse there has ever been -the greatest horse there ever will be, a bold statement yes but one I firmly believe to be true. How can you beat perfection and lets face it perfection in a horse that in its early days could be described as a horse with a screw loose, the Prince was lucky to have a Trainer of Genius (sorry Brough for the steel) in charge of his pride and joy as I am not sure there is or was any other trainer out there that could of matched Sir Henrys feats with this horse.

Everyone talks about the Guineas win how could they not, the thing is everyone will talk about that performance for yrs and yrs to come, people that were not born at the time the MONSTER ran will talk about it as its now on film forever and people were and will be open mouthed as they watch the race unfold (my bottom jaw still drops now as I still cant believe that any thoroughbred can do that to a field in a Classic -I still cant believe what my eyes show me).

But the biggie with Frankel is the story behind the beast the partnership with Sir Henry, I am convinced that Frankel gave his trainer an extra year or two of life and oh how lucky we all were to witness the story unfold.

For all those that crab Frankel (and there are a few -madness) lets not forget he won from 6f to a mile and a quarter, his final performance proved he could go on all ground though obviously the heavy wasn’t his ideal, and he beat every top class horse from England Ireland and France often on multiple occasions – and usually he didn’t beat them he laughed at them. The two big things the doubters raise when crabbing the horse was the fact that he didn’t win over 12 furlongs -well I for one believe he would of won the Derby though I must admit that so early in his career (due to his temperament) it would probably his hardest race, and the fact that he didn’t run in the big international races -well lets not forget his trainers health. Had Sir Henry trained the horse 10yrs earlier I am sure we would of seen Frankel in the U.S.A before its retirement, but long haul plane journeys surely would not of been ideal due to Sir Henrys health.

But in summary Frankel Sir Henry The Prince the BEST BAR NONE, anyone that still needs convincing re watch the videos.

David Parker: What a horse , what a trainer , and what a jockey who should have gone a lot further in my opinion .

The 2000’ Guineas is my favourite memory of Frankel to win a race in that fashion and Tom Queally in the interview afterwards saying that he was only idling but he still won by 6 lengths. unbelievable. Great epitaph to one of the greatest trainers of all time .

Martyn Weston: Whilst Frankel produced some visually great performances throughout his career, the stand out performance for me was his final start in the Champion Stakes.

I remember watching the race and as they turned for home, I felt all the hairs on my arms and neck prick up as I knew I was witnessing something very special and something that would live long in the history of any sport.

I also think it was his best performance in terms of form. The second was the top class 130 rated Cirrus Des Aigles , who at the time was still very much a genuine brilliant Group 1 horse and had arguably produced its career best performance at the course and distance 12 months earlier. Whilst the third on the day was the 126 rated Nathaniel, who may have been better over slightly further, but was still a twice G1 winner in the Eclipse and King George.

Frankel just cruised up alongside two genuine Group 1 horses this day and just kicked on past them when Tom Quelley asked him. It was a not only a fantastic swansong to a great career, it was also the strongest form performance of his career, in my opinion.

I am generally quite a cynical person who reacts negatively to hyped up horses and I never once had a bet on Frankel throughout his career. I didn’t need to have a bet on the horse to enjoy its career, but I just felt really emotional after this final win at Ascot. I have never previously experienced that from a horse and I suspect I am unlikely to experience it again in the future.

George Goodenough: I totally agree with the assessment. Frankel's destruction of Excelebration was probably the greatest performance on the flat of all time. Excelebration went on to win the Jacques Marois and the QE2, described as impressive by the Post. Champions can only be considered great when the vanquished are legends in their own right. George Foreman and Joe Frazier, Mill House, L'escargot and Crisp. All household names at the time but all in the shadow of another. Excelebration gave Frankel the credibility to be regarded as the greatest of all time.

I have a confession and that is that Frankel was not even in my top two favourite horses of his generation. Those places are filled by his victims. Firstly Dream Ahead. Switched back to sprinting in the July Cup his price of 7/1 was unbelievable. I interrupted the bbq in the garden to tell everybody to be quick as the bookies were giving away free money. My friends unhappily seem to lack a bit of confidence in my skills and didn't take advantage. I followed up at Haydock and was at Longchamp in my shorts and polo shirt on that blazing hot October Sunday when he beat Goldikova and broke French hearts. Seconly Nathaniel. Frankel's first victim, his win in the King George was part of a trixie which paid for a family dinner in the pub that night. Frankel, Excelebration, Dream Ahead. Champions All.

Andrew Pelis: My favourite memory of Frankel is very much based around personal experience. I had not been swept up by the hype around this so-called "wonder horse" - I had been there too many times and ultimately it ended in disappointment, so I was very guarded after his first two wins and even after the Royal Lodge. But it was his fourth start, in the Dewhurst Stakes, that is my favourite memory, more for the occasion than his performance. He was taking on bona fide contenders for the two year old crown in Dream Ahead, the runaway winner of the Middle Park Stakes, on soft ground - but also the Aidan O'Brien trained Roderic O'Connor and the Godolphin horse nicknamed Pegasus - aka Saamidd. From the gates, Frankel received a bump which lit him up and his performance on the day was not the same electrifying one that we would become accustomed to. Racing in the centre of the course he got the job done. But it was the occasion that meant so much. As many people will recall that extraordinary York afternoon in 2012 and how the emotions ran high, so too did they on a gloriously warm, sunny afternoon at Newmarket. For this was the final Champions' Day. After a bitter and controversial decision by the BHA to scrap an event Newmarket had done so well with since 1997, this was the last hurrah. As the crowds basked in sun-drenched autumn beauty, there was a sense of melancholy on the Rowley Mile. Frankel helped to lift the spirits, gifting the resurgent Henry Cecil Dewhurst Stakes victory for the first time since Diesis, way back in 1982. But on that day, Frankel only took equal billing rights with his great trainer and stable mate Twice Over, who for good measure added a second Champion Stakes. A Group One double for Warren Place. Not for the last time, Henry - yet to be knighted back then, received three cheers from the crowd. Frankel went on to scale far greater heights but I wonder if he learned more in that race than any other he encountered. It was the first time he met genuine Group One horses and had to overcome adversity and it set him up for all those future glories.