Legendary English trainer Sir Henry Cecil is determined to pull out all stops to be at York on Wednesday to saddle up his unbeaten champion Frankel in the Group 1 £725,000 Juddmonte International Stakes (1 mile 2 furlongs 88 yards).
Cecil has been receiving ongoing treatment for cancer and had to miss Frankel keeping his record intact when the four year old made it twelve from twelve wins in the Group 1 £300,000 QIPCO Sussex Stakes (1 mile) at Goodwood on August 1.
“Although I have had some medical treatment recently and not been racing because my immune system is low, I have been able to work from home,” Cecil said.
“I am very hopeful that I will be able to make it to York on Wednesday to saddle my horses.”
“I just cannot miss the day and I want to be there for Frankel.”
Cecil will provide three runners in the Juddmonte and as well as Frankel, he will saddle up pacemaker Bullet Train and 2011 International winner Twice Over.
Racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, Teddy Grimthorpe has stated that jockey Tom Queally won’t be given any different instruction as Frankel steps up to the mile and a quarter for the first time searching for his thirteenth win.
Frankel has completely dominated all three of his wins this time in and Queally, who has ridden the undefeated entire in all of his wins, won’t be restraining the champion at York.
“He’s got this tremendous cruising speed and if you stifle that you’re stifling the best part of him really. His stride takes him into the race, so there’s no point in anchoring him or blasting him off,” Grimthorpe said.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford is looking for a better showing from Farhh after the four year old was beaten six lengths by the Frankel in the Sussex Stakes following a half length second to Nathaniel in the Group 1 £400,000 Coral – Eclipse (1 mile 2 furlongs 7 yards) at Sandown on July 7.
“I didn’t think he ran as well as he did at Ascot and Sandown and I put that down to the trip more than anything. I think we’ve established a mile and a quarter is a good trip for him,” Crisford said.
“Maybe the horse wasn’t in as good form as he was when he ran in the Eclipse. It might have taken a little bit more out of him than we thought.”
Bookmakers has installed Frankel the 1-7 favourite for the Juddmonte with the Aidan O’Brien trained St Nicholas Abbey at 11-2 and Farhh on the third line of betting at 12-1.
St Nicholas Abbey, the best of O’Brien’s three runners, is dropping back in distance after finishing third to Danedream in the Group 1 £1m The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1 mile 4 furlongs) at Ascot on July 21 following his win in the Group 1 £300,000 Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (1 mile 4 furlongs) at Epsom on June 2.
