Frankel fans have a chance to add to their collections when Bonhams Auction House sells what is believed to be one of the sole remaining racing shoes of the dual world champion not in the care of owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah.
The late Sir Henry Cecil with Frankel at Royal Ascot
The Racing Post reports that accompanying the racing plate, which was worn by Frankel in his scintillating ten-length win in the 2010 Royal Lodge Stakes, is a training plate and a letter from the late Sir Henry Cecil to the current vendor, whose daughter was gifted it in person.
It says: “This is one of Frankel’s two-year-old racing plates. He wore this in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot. I hope you enjoy having it. Yours sincerely, Sir Henry Cecil.”
The shoe, which was made by Kerckhaert Kings Plate Extra Sound 32 (size 7), is forecast to make £15,000-£20,000 at the auction in Edinburgh on October 31.
Frankel was unbeaten in 14 starts and was reported by his former farrier to have unusually large hooves, wearing shoe sizes 7 and 7.5.
The majority of Frankel’s racing plates were given to Cecil and then to Juddmonte Farms, where he stood this year for £175,000, but it is believed there are now only two plates that are not in the care of his owner-breeder.
The son of Galileo, whose other big-race successes included a six-length romp in the 2,000 Guineas and an imperious seven-length triumph in the following season’s Juddmonte International, retired to Banstead Manor Stud in October 2012 and has produced the likes of Cracksman, this year’s Oaks heroine Anapurna and Japanese champion Soul Stirring.
