Perfect 13 for Frankel…
They call this stepping out of the comfort zone? Words don’t come easy. The world’s best horse Frankel stepped out at York to win the Gr1 Juddmonte International at 1-10 and make it a perfect 13 from 13 at his first tilt at 2000m
In winning this race, Frankel surpassed Rock of Gibraltar’s mark of seven Group One wins in a row.
The unbeaten superstar, officially the best horse in the world, was watched by a crowd of 25,000.
He won the 725 000 pound race by seven lengths beating Godolphin’s Fahhr ridden by Frankie Dettori, while Coronation Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey made up the trifecta. Last year’s International winner Twice Over finished in fourth.
Regular rider Tom Queally appeared to purposely miss the jump by a length as Robin Hood dashed off to lead Windsor Palace and Bullet Train in a true-run affair.
At the halfway mark er the order remain much the same with Frankel settled well and doddling along with only two horses following him and about eight lengths off the action.
Turning into the long straight Queally angled his mount to the wide outside and he made up the ground with giant strides to hit the front with 400m to run. Frankie Dettori got stuck into Farhh, who looked briefly as if he would rattle the favourite’s cage. But there was no going with the champion.
He went on to win unextended with a minor, almost nervous shake of the reins, justify the Bookmakers innovative panic in setting up all kinds of special markets to ensure betting interest. He was miles clear of his rivals in the betting markets and this extended to the track.
What A Win! Frankel (far left) skates clear of his field
Paddy Power and William Hill had priced up Frankel’s winning margin and both made five lengths or more their favourite, Paddy Power making that an 8-15 chance while Hills were offering evens.
Both firms were betting without Frankel as well and made St Nicholas Abbey their even-money favourite in that market. Hills offered handicap betting on the big race, for which Frankel was 11-10 (minus five lengths), the field 6-5 and a dead heat 5-1.
The heavy downpour on the Knavesmire on late Tuesday afternoon had not moved the going from good to firm as the hours ticked down to the opening day of the Ebor festival.
Trained by Sir Henry Cecil, who was on course despite illness to witness the great horse win, Frankel has established himself as the best racehorse in the world with a series of scintillating performances at 1600m, including an 11-length win in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in June.
Now that we know he stays the 2000m, what will they dream up next to try and beat him?
