Frankel still improving
Thursday 18 June 2020 11:23, UK
Tom Queally says Qipco 2000 Guineas favourite Frankel has improved since his Greenham romp and is a much better horse now.
Tom Queally says Qipco 2000 Guineas favourite Frankel has improved since his Greenham romp.
Henry Cecil's unbeaten red-hot favourite proved he'd come through the winter with flying colours by storming to an impressive four-length success in the big trial at Newbury on April 16.
Now he's set to line up a firm odds-on market leader for the first Classic of the 2011 season on Saturday, and Queally is bullish about his chances.
Writing in his Racing UK blog he said: "He wasn't fully tuned up when he won at Newbury a couple of weeks ago, but the race has brought him on and he is a much better horse now than he was then. He did his last piece of work on Tuesday and will be spot on Saturday.
"He has an extraordinary long stride and, if we get a sensible pace, I hope I'll be celebrating my first English Classic winner."
Queally says he doesn't do pressure, even when it's a Classic, but admits he'll have an even steelier focus than normal during the big one at Newmarket.
And he doesn't have any major fears for the much-vaunted son of Galileo as he prepares to take the next step towards turf immortality.
"There's a lot of talent in the race and he will be racing on ground faster than he's ever run on before, but there are also plenty of positives, not the least of which is that he has won over the course and will have the benefit of a pacemaker in Rerouted."
Henry Cecil issued an upbeat bulletin about the youngster, and expects him to be in better shape than he was for his seasonal reappearance at Newbury in the Greenham, which he won by four lengths.
"Frankel is very well, he did his final piece of work on Tuesday morning and I was delighted. He was lovely and relaxed in behind his lead horse and I'd be very surprised if he's not a better horse than at Newbury," said Cecil.
"He has come on a lot for his run. I was really pleased how he behaved there as he was fresh going into it.
"He hadn't been on the grass since last year as it has been so dry so I was thrilled he was so well behaved," he told his website.
