I thought about waiting for a second viewing of the programme or using some 'catch up' function on the laptop however after consideration here goes! I would advise readers that I was and remain a 'fan' of Sir Henry Cecil. My thoughts about Frankel I will keep to myself. The documentary did not seem to have a set target audience; was it aimed at the 'racing' or the general public? The commentary would suggest the general public when you take account of the description of the 1000 Guineas. The insights and reminiscencies from Dee Duncan and Jake Cecil were, to me, the best parts of the programme. The details of his twin brother's death, as described by Jane Cecil, and the final effects of Henry's illness were both correctly dealt with sympathy and empathy. The poorer parts were the lack of deeper explanations of Henry's weaknesses; I would suggest the recall of Alastair Campbell about Charles Kennedy's passing gave a better and more rounded view of another 'loved' individual's life and work. Turning to the horse racing aspect I thought that the 'jump' from Light Shift in 2007 to Frankel in 2010 ignored Henry's return to the highest level of racehorse training. I think some mention of the excellent records of Twice Over and Midday would have been appropriate to explain Khalid Abdullah and Juddmonte Farm's continuing support for Henry. It was as if his 'return to form' was Frankel and Frankel only. To close; I enjoyed the programme but considered it too short and ultimately a wee bit shallow. This view is of course from a horse racing aficionado and not a member of the general public.
The programme was aimed at non-racing folk. I agree it ignored other high profile horses at Warren Place but there's only so much they could do in an hour. I was a bit disappointed they missed out Frankel's Queen Anne win as surely that would have driven home to the casual viewer just how superior he was. I'm going to try and find out from my sources why Tom Queally wasn't involved
This may be more appropriate to the 'Discuss anything.....' thread but does anyone remember or has seen the movie 'The Rocking Horse Winner'? I think I saw the film after my many trips to Musselburgh or the 'dugs' in my primary school years so believed this was the greatest gift that a 'God' could bestow on a young lad already interested in the land of punts, beer and bints! What the f..k went wrong in the next fifty or so years!!!
Right, I've done my digging around and the consensus seems to be that Tom Queally didn't take part because he is still (allegedly) sulking over losing the Juddmonte/Warren Place retainer.
Oh, and I'm also told that the documentary was originally supposed to be 90% Frankel/10% Henry, but a different production company took over from the original pitch and changed things around. I get the impression that while Juddmonte are happy with the end result, they'd have been happier if the original idea had been stuck to, which was to explore Frankel as an athlete and look at what goes in to creating a champion racehorse.
Queally should just be thankful that he was allowed to ride for them aslong as he did, and get to ride a horse as good as Frankel. After Royal Ascot where he sent him for home with fully 4 furlongs to run, I'd of never let him near one of my horses again. Had there been a better horse than Zoffany in the pack, Frankels unbeaten run would have been gone there and then
And the horse that finished third would be rated the third best miler in the world that year. The following year he'd be rated the third best horse in the world. This is the very same animal that helped Frankel to such a lofty rating. When Queally took off at the half mile, he had to be pretty sure that he had them covered, and to be frank, the great horse never looked as though he'd be beaten. Queally knew a damned sight more about the horse than anyone on this or any other forum. He had a first hand knowledge of just what was under the saddle, which is a hell of a lot mote than we'd ever know. The man has to get the benefit of the doubt.
Excelebration didn't run to form in the St James's Palace after pulling hard early, and then being hampered 4 out when trying to chase down Frankel. Adam Kirby who was on board Excelebration that day panicked when he seen Frankel go for home, and sent Excelebration for home to early aswell, and this was another reason why Zoffany finished infront of him. Had Kirby been more patient like Ryan Moore was on Zoffany, I'm sure Excelebration could have given Frankel a serious problem in the last furlong. Queally made a massive tactical error that day, and was just fortunate that Adam Kirby on the 2nd best horse was also stupid enough give chase. Had Ryan Moore been on Excelebration, I fancy he may well have won. If you honestly believe that Frankel never looked in trouble that day, then I suggest you re watch the race. As Aussie Jim was shouting, Frankel was running up and down on the one spot. He was completely gassed thanks to Queallys terrible ride. And it was his own pacemaker that cause the problem, he thought a donkey like Bullet Train could slip the field in a G1 race
Yep a shocking piece of pace making. Can't agree about Excelebration though. They could have ridden him anyway they wanted, and I don't think he'd have ever beaten Frankel. Surely a solid performer with a 133 rating isn't going to get the better of the greatest horse ever to have set foot on a race track?
On that day though you have to say Frankel probably ran to his lowest ever rating, beating Zoffany narrowly would only warrant a rating in the mid to low 120s, and that's being generous. So had Excelebration been ridden to his best, and kicked for home with a couple of furlongs to go rather than trying to chase after Frankel, there is every reason to believe he'd of caught him. Afterall Zoffany who was ridden correctly nearly did! This is not me knocking Frankel, as I rate him as the best I've seen, and it's a big compliment to him that he was still able to win despite the terrible ride he was given. But no horse can sustain a sprint fully 4 furlongs from home in a mile race, even as good as Frankel was. A more experienced Jockey would have known that Bullet Train was never going to be good enough to slip the field. That's why I would have jocked off Queally, as he clearly showed that day that the pressure of riding Frankel was getting to him
I was on Zoffany that day at 50s I nearly pissed me self with excitement thinking it'd done Frankel. Glad it didn't though in the end despite what I'd have won it would have been an unfair tarnish to the legacy of the best racehorse ever
a great documentary, a shame there are some whingers on here. I feel privileged to have seen one of Frankel's races "live" , but I think it was the 2000 Guineas which will forever live in my memory. It was the ultimate flat racing performance. The only disappointment for me is that he then didn't go and contest the Derby. I can understand why he didn't but I think in the summer of 2011 he could have probably won any race he entered - he really was that good.
Watched the 2000G on the box and I remember thinking that Queally had lost his mind when Frankel took off. It is probably one of the most memorable race performances
