Frankel is currently the best racehorse on the planet

The richest day in British racing history brought together the finest horses in Europe and a large and enthusiastic crowd, and it proved very much a day for the stars to shine. There were returning heroes and Classic waltzes, but above all the day belonged to Frankel, billed as the centrepiece and very much rising to the challenge. Our team of handicappers bring you their thoughts on it all.

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Blog Editor: Graeme Smith

FRANKEL-SENSE

Having spent most of Saturday afternoon, Sunday and Monday taking texts, emails and phone calls asking me “what’s HE going to then?” I’ve felt a bit of a “party pooper” replying that the mighty Frankel will be staying on his pre-race rating of 135 despite his demolition of the QE II field, writes Dominic Gardener-Hill.

I have become a huge admirer of the horse, he’s certainly the best miler I’ve seen, and would love to get him up to the sort of figures people feel would do him justice but cold, hard handicapping facts make that less than easy.

The key to the QE II for me lies in the performance of fourth placed Dubawi Gold. Beaten six lengths by Frankel in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket he has never been better than 117 in my eyes in his eight starts prior to Saturday’s race and I see no obvious reason why he should have bettered that figure in going down by seven and three quarter lengths at Ascot. Building up from Richard Hannon’s colt suggests that third placed Immortal Verse has run to 115 (6lb below her Jacques Le Marois performance but with an interrupted preparation and on ground that was probably faster than ideal) and runner-up Excelebration has performed to 125. He is currently rated 126 on the back of his six length romp in the Hungerford at Newbury (7f) but this may prove the more reliable form although he retains his 126 for the time being.

Interestingly a four length defeat by Frankel in the QE II mirrors exactly result of the Greenham at Newbury when Marco Botti’s colt once again finished second, whilst he narrowed the gap to two and a quarter lengths when third to him in the St James’s Palace when Frankel was not at his best. This evidence, plus the increased margin of only one and three quarter lengths over Dubawi Gold, suggests that maybe, just maybe, Frankel has not “progressed away” from his rivals as much as many think. In running to 133+ in winning Saturday’s race, I believe Frankel did little or no more than when beating Canford Cliffs in the Sussex.

The suggestion that Dubawi Gold should set the level of Saturday’s race is given further credence by the performances of Poet’s Voice (6th -went into the race 114, ran to 115) and Side Glance (7th – went in 115, ran to 115), whilst pacemaker Bullet Train has mathematically run to 109 in finishing last of the eight runners despite going into the race rated only 106!!

There can be little doubt however, that Frankel is currently the best racehorse on the planet. His rating of 135 still sees him 5lb clear of nearest challenger Black Caviar who will have little opportunity to better her figure before the end of the year, which should ensure Frankel takes his place at the top of the heap.

For those who believe I am undercooking Frankel’s rating let me assure you there is still hope that he might end the year on a higher mark. When the World Rankings Committee meets in Hong Kong in December to discuss the years performances, it might well be decided that 135 is indeed on the mean side and that he is deserving of a higher figure – I certainly would not object if that was the view of the Committee! In the meantime let’s forget talk of figures and bask in the glory of the performances of one of the finest thoroughbreds to have graced our sport in recent years….AND he stays in training as a four year old!!