Frankel Memories

From British Champions Series


“I remember the very first day I sat on board Frankel. He was just exceptional.”
09 October 2014

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It’s hard to believe that it is nearly two years ago that the legendary Frankel last graced the turf on QIPCO British Champions Day.

In front of a sold out Ascot crowd, anxious to witness the world’s greatest racehorse in his final race, the Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt maintained his immaculate record with an assertive display in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, bowing out like all sport’s true champions do – at the very top of his game.

However, the story of Frankel’s astonishing story to stardom not only lied in the hands of his jockey Tom Queally or the loving care and attention of his late masterful trainer Sir Henry Cecil, but also in the hands and heels of his regular work rider, Shane Fetherstonhaugh.

Once an amateur jockey with a sole winner to his name – on board Mimosa at Salisbury for Simon Dow in June 1996 – Shane’s career has been blessed with equine stardom.

Before moving to Cecil’s operation at Warren Place, Fetherstonhaugh was based with Michael Bell, where he rode out the Derby champion of 2005, Motivator. Then, having made the move to work under Cecil in 2006, the Irishman was responsible for taking care of the three-time Nassau Stakes heroine, Midday.

It would turn out to be the perfect preparation before being introduced to the QIPCO British Champions Series superstar, Frankel.

Shane remembers the day he had his first ride on the two-time Champions Day winner vividly.

“I remember the very first day I sat on board Frankel,” he said. “He was just exceptional. He had a presence about him and he possessed all the qualities that the perfect champion should have.

“The moment you sit on a top-class horse you can just tell there is something special about them. When you ride them, you feel like you are riding a top sprinter because they go so quick. It is so effortless for them. Frankel had it all and he had it in abundance.

“I’ve never driven a Ferrari before, but I imagine riding him is similar to that. The way he moved was staggering. You could feel him put the power down on the turf with every stride and it was like nothing I had ever felt before on a horse. He was just a powerhouse.

“Frankel was a very typical alpha male-type colt. We never gave him Polos because he would get too excited and then that would cause us problems. However, he was a great lover of carrots. That and a good pick at grass.”

The son of an Irish racing journalist and the grandson of a pedigree expert, Shane was instilled with a respect and an affection for horses at a very early age.

Having ridden earlier in his life, he knew the challenges that came with race-riding, as well as managing horses responsibly and with delicacy in the pursuit of success.

That is why, better than most, Fetherstonhaugh sympathised with the pressures that Cecil and Queally, in particular, came under with Frankel.

“You may find it hard to believe, but I was never, at any time, envious of Tom riding him (Frankel). I did my stint and it wasn’t for me,” he stated.

“I had, and still have, a lot of admiration for Tom about the way he conducted himself and the attention that came with it. I knew the pressures he was under and I felt for him. He handled it with such a high level of professionalism.

“To be a part of the Frankel team, especially with Sir Henry, was just a dream to be honest with you.

“I’ve never met anyone like him. He was a genius. He just had a sixth sense and a feel for the horses. You can’t be taught that. It comes to you naturally and it did to him.

“Sir Henry is a legend of the game and even before I worked with him, I looked up to him. I look back on my time with him and I am proud to have looked upon him as a friend.

“In my opinion, he is the greatest trainer.”

Unbeaten throughout his career, Frankel was bidding to maintain his perfect record on British Champions Day in 2012.

Already the champion of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, the QIPCO Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2011, the racing star added the JLT Lockinge Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes and the Juddmonte International Stakes, among many others, to his stellar CV in the Olympic year.

In the QIPCO Champion Stakes, Frankel was looking to bow out with 14 victories and zero defeats.

It would turn out to be a particularly memorable day for Shane that would go down in racing’s rich history as the ultimate finale of a champion.

“Sir Henry insisted that Clare (his partner) and I went to Champions Day as his guests,” he said. “He told me that I had been an integral part of the story and that I should go.

“It was just the most amazing day, but I remember it being a very uncomfortable experience up until Frankel won. There was a lot of uncertainty as to whether he would run because the ground was soft and we wanted to make sure that whatever happened, it was in the horse’s best interests.

“After the race had finished, I remember feeling a huge sense of relief that he could retire as an undefeated champion, fit and healthy.

“It was just one of those moments that will stay with you forever. As any other racegoer at Champions Day that year will tell you, it felt like you were witnessing something very unique.

“I remember looking around in the stands and seeing people cry with happiness – even though they had no connection with the horse. It was amazing. He just captured the imagination of everyone. I will always feel immensely proud about that.”

Now working with Godolphin at Charlie Appleby’s yard in Newmarket, Fetherstonhaugh reminisces about his fondest memories with Frankel.

It is with great pride in his voice that he recalls being associated with the best horse the world has ever seen.

“I’ll always keep those special moments with Frankel that no one else shared.

“Those intimate moments we had and seeing him every morning are just the special little things that no one can take away from you. I’ll treasure that forever.”

 

So many great memories, York for juddmonte day and the pre parade ring was packed! We had to watch the proceeding race from the paddock just so we could get a good spot to see the monster that was Frankel! The greatest I will ever see

 

I have been lucky enough to see him in the flesh several times, 8 times on the racecourse, once at Warren Place and 3 times since his retirement to stud. The Guineas was amazing with the crowd cheering and applauding from 2f out and I was on the verge of tears at Ascot after his Champions Stakes win. I remember seeing him in the pre-parade at Newbury before the Lockinge and seeing how much he'd grown and filled out from the previous autumn, I though to myself that he looked like a bull and that this season was going to be something else!

 

I'll never forget Frankel....

 

..Won't be ****ing allowed to!...