Twitter reports are that Frankel will face just 9 rivals after the 5-day declaration stage for the Juddmonte International. No further information at this point, but the rivals will likely include Bullet Train, Twice Over, Nathaniel and St Nicholas Abbey. I'll post more as soon as details are released.
From Racing Post Nathaniel a potential rival to Frankel at York By Racingpost.com staff 12:28PM 16 AUG 2012 KING GEORGE and Eclipse winner Nathaniel is among nine potential rivals to Frankel in the Juddmonte International at York following Thursday's confirmation stage. The John Gosden-trained colt, who finished a half-length second to Frankel when they made their racecourse debuts at Newmarket two years ago, is not a certain runner in Wednesday's Group 1 contest and has the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes on September 8 as an alternative target. The unbeaten Frankel will be stepping up to 1m2f for the first time at York and is joined by stablemates Bullet Train and last year's winner Twice Over. Ballydoyle's three entries are headed by St Nicholas Abbey while other potential rivals include Farhh, Planteur and Sri Putra. Derby runner-up Main Sequence and Frankel's full brother Noble Mission are among the 11 left in the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes on the same card.
There was a line in âThe Guardianâ yesterday saying that Frankel would have at least 2 rivals next week â Bullet Train and Twice Over. Not sure if they were just reporting fact or being a tad mischievous! 2 of these entries are though pacemakers for St Nicholas Abbey â namely Robin Hood and Windsor Palace! St Nicholas Abbey looks like being the main danger to Sir Henry's Champion as isnât Nathaniel earmarked for the Irish Champion Stakes??? Iâve always been a huge admirer of the former but surely 10 furlongs is far too short for Mr OâBrienâs horse. Personally Iâd love to see him in the Irish St Leger or even next years Gold Cup as all he does is stay and would come into his own over those sort of distances.
Nathaniel is much more likely to go for the Irish Champion next month, it is just a precautionary step to not remove him from the Juddmonte runners too early. If SNA comes out (quite possible IMO as I believe Coolmore are running scared of Frankel) then the two pacemakers will come out too, leaving a maximum of 5 rivals. Again I don't understand why no trainers are putting in a decent, but not quite top class, filly into these fields. They are all cutting up so why not take the chance with a Listed class filly and pick up some decent prize money and if they're lucky a bit of black type?
I really hope Nathaniel shows up as i feel he will be a proper test as wil SNA to only a slightly lesser degree. My fear is that everybody drops out and Frankel has pretty much a walkover. Surely this race makes more sense than the Irish race for Natahniel.
I completely agree with this. I have been saying he should be aimed at staying races since his demolition job at chester in the ormonde over 1m5f.....his turn of foot in that race was very impressive and the way ryan moore struggled to pull him up after the race just showed to me that he is crying out to be stepped up in trip. Im convinced he would dominate that division for a good couple of years
I think the ground will determine whether SNA runs.Fair enough IMO. Frankel's connections didn't fancy the Eclipse against a strong field on soft turf over 10f. Coolmore have fielded opposition against Frankel in 7/8 of his G1's and his G2 Royal Lodge demolition to boot as a 2-y-o. The welfare of the horse must come first. It would,therefore,be disingenuous of any horses connections to run them under conditions which would prevent them from operating at their best.
Wednesday at York could be a Khalid Abdulla benefit. In the Acomb Stakes, he could be represented by Dundonnell, victorious by a facile twelve lengths on his debut. The Great Voltigeur Stakes features Frankel’s brother, Noble Mission, in what looks on paper to be a high quality St Leger trial. How many will Aidan O’Brien be running in order to gauge the merits of Camelot’s potential Town Moor rivals? Victory on the Knavesmire will surely propel the winner to second favouritism for the final Classic. Frankel is 1/8 for the feature race but those odds look likely to contract further. Current second favourite Nathaniel is unlikely to appear according to John Gosden, leaving St Nicholas Abbey, rated more than a stone behind Sir Henry Cecil’s superstar, the principal rival. Will O’Brien try the Dick Hern tactic of running two pacemakers to test the favourite’s stamina? It nearly worked for Bustino (I know there were other mitigating circumstances before it is mentioned). As well as Bullet Train, the sponsor will also be represented by last year’s winner, Twice Over. It may be that only six or seven face the starter. Farhh and Sri Putra make up the ten left in – will they be tempted by the place money? Watching Jamie Osborne on The Morning Line, it is clear why his yard is devoid of decent performers. If St Nicholas Abbey is a good bet on the grounds that Frankel may not stay, why has he not entered a couple of lowly handicappers that might plod on into sixth place to pick up a few pounds?
Nathaniel is the only absentee after this morning's 48 hour declaration stage. Speculation in today's Racing Post that Ballydoyle may be employing 2 pacemakers in the hope of stretching Frankel's stamina. Though reading the gallops report from his work on Saturday morning, it's hard to imagine the tactics working: "Cecil looked on as Eddie Ahern got a taste of what to expect on the Knavesmire on Wednesday when left standing on Bullet Train as his 12-time unbeaten stablemate completed his preparation on the Al Bahathri. Looks every inch the 1-10 chance for Wednesday's Juddmonte International on this evidence and would appear to be in the form of his life." Frankel had his last piece of fast work on the gallops this morning. Matt Chapman was present and posted this picture on Twitter shortly after 7.30am.
Article from RP in full: Frankel takes on eight in Juddmonte International By Peter Scargill 10:14AM 20 AUG 2012 FRANKEL will take on eight rivals when he steps up to 1m2f for the first time in the Juddmonte International on Wednesday after Nathaniel was the only withdrawal at the final declaration stage on Monday. Trained by Sir Henry Cecil, Frankel has established himself as the best racehorse in the world with a series of scintillating performances at 1m, including an 11-length win in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in June. Having secured total dominance at 1m, connections have elected to up the unbeaten four-year-old in trip for his 13th start. Chief among his rivals is set to be Coronation Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey after John Gosden elected to send Coral-Eclipse winner Nathaniel to the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes next month. St Nicholas Abbey will be joined by two pacemakers from Aidan O'Brien's stable in Robin Hood and Windsor Palace as he seeks his first win at 1m2f. Last year's International winner Twice Over, Godolphin's Farhh, Planteur, Sri Putra and Frankel's pacemaker Bullet Train complete the line up for the opening day highlight of the Ebor festival. Full race card to follow...
I'm about 30 miles north of York. Yesterday it rained fairly solidly from about midday to late evening. in the late afternoon it was very heavy rain. I'd be surprised if it was much different in York. It rained here again this morning and continual showers are forecast. The going must be good to soft or slower I'd think if they are seeng different. York isn't the best surface for handling rain.
York is still Good to Firm according to Racing Post. The BBC weather forecast doesn't suggest much rain to come over the next few days either. I'm pretty sure the word "watering" has been mentioned.
From Racing Post just now: "The going at York on Monday morning is good to firm. It was dry overnight and there is just a passing shower that might hit the course on Monday evening. Otherwise it is dry all the way to Wednesday. (14 mins ago)"
another walk in the park for Frankel, shame there is no good middle distance horses around in his era to take him on.
I'm a huge fan of St Nic, but even if the track cuts up and AOB decides to run twin pace makers, it's hard to see the great horse being rolled. He's just such a versatile animal. We've seen him blitz away in a breathtaking, front running display, and we've seen the other side of the coin, where for a few strides, he's had to be asked to a serious effort. When ridden as a staying type, he looks to me as though he needs a bit of stoking up, but when he hits top gear .... whoosh.
Would have been a good laugh to see Nathaniel up against Frankel again, Gosden done well keeping up the charade that it was 50/50 with the Irish Champion he never had any intention of having Nathaniels reputation destroyed by a 15 length beating. Camelot is the only other great horse around just now so hopefully they meet in the Champion at Ascot but its unlikely.
