Bustino yep STS was a fantastic racehorse, his ability to win over the distances he did and to always keep finding more puts him right up there with the very best IMHO. But for sheer spine-tingling excitement Frankel is something else - watching him is like watching the current Barcelona team at football or (and I'm showing my age here) the young Alex Higgins playing snooker. They just do (did) things that leave you gob-smacked.
I also agree about Dubai Millenium. One of the best thoroughbreds ever. He had the same ability as Frankel the way he cruised through his races and had that change of gear which looked effortless and left his rivals floundering. Sendawar was no mug but DM destroyed him at Ascot and I would have backed him to beat the mighty Montjeu over 10f aswell. Such a shame his career and life were cut so short, Its always the best ones that seem to leave so early. George Washington was another one of My favourites...
If Frankel reminds me of any human athlete, it's Gareth Bale effortlessly opening his stride as he races down the touchline with the ball at his feet, leaving befuddled defenders in his wake. I sincerely hope everything goes well for the great horse next season, and Sir Henry decides to cap 2012 with a trip to Santa Anita for the BC. I'm already planning my trip to California, which I expect Frankel will pay for (he's paid the deposit twice over already).
It appears virtually unanimous that he is the most exciting horse that there has been for a long time. I think this is perhaps the best way to describe him. Everything about him is exciting. He may not have proven himself the greatest ever just yet, but i am confident that he will do that in time. I wouldn't know quite how to describe it but he has something very special about him, and it has been apparent right from the word go. There is certainly some quality which really sets him apart from anything else i have ever seen. Sea The Stars was undoubtedly brilliant but he didn't have the same X-factor that Frankel has. He was defined by his considerable achievements on the racetrack, but i feel (and it seems that others agree) that Frankel has something else, something very special, and possibly something unique. Furthermore, i think Frankel has beaten more good horses than we realise, though i would agree that Canford Cliffs is the only confirmed brilliant performer that he has put to the sword. My one worry is that there doesn't appear to be any other potentially 'great' horses knocking around for him to demolish, over either 8f or 10f, and enhance his reputation further. What we really need is for a top 8/10f horse to emerge either this season or from next year's classic generation to present him with a meaningful challenge.
Frankel is a beast and without doubt the Flat horse that excites me most when he's racing. I usually drift asleep through the summers Flat season (waiting for the jumps) but this season is different and probably Frankel is the main reason why. The really outstanding news is he's being kept in training next season. That for me will be the defining season as to where he fits into the 'greatest of all time' lists....
