Frankel locks horns with St Nicholas Abbey
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
The defining moment of a champion, a step up in trip that has been long overdue. On Wednesday, Sir Henry Cecil's exceptional four year old colt, Frankel, bids to further enhance his reputation in his inaugural attempt at the ten furlongs trip in his sponsor's race, the Juddmonte International. The highlight of the opening day of York's four day mid-season festival, the unbeaten Frankel will once again be partnered by Tom Queally in his long awaited step up in trip in which eight rivals stand in his way of yet another enthralling victory.
Already responsible for five rivals previously propelled towards Frankel in an attempt to dethrone the people's champion, Aidan O'Brien is again responsible for the main challenger to Frankel's throne at York. A four-time Group 1 winner, St Nicholas Abbey enters this race arguably as the toughest rival Frankel is yet to face with victories in the Breeders Cup Turf and Epsom Coronation Cup his most notable victories in a stop-start career. A champion in his two year old season, the winter of 2009 held the prospect of St Nicholas Abbey returning from his winter break as an incredible exciting prospect, yet unlike Frankel St Nicholas Abbey was unable to capitalise on that debut season form when running out a well beaten favourite in the 2010 English 2000 Guineas. It was a full year before St Nicholas Abbey returned to the racetrack after that performance but performances in 2011 and in 2012, so far, have proved right the Coolmore operation to be patient with their son of Montjeu.
O'Brien has experienced both praise and criticism from the racing media and public alike for his decisions aboard St Nicholas Abbey, yet few can take away the superb association he holds with the colt when driving home left handed. Scintillating in victory at Epsom, O'Brien managed to push his star horse home for a four length domination despite dropping his whip when clear and in-front towards the final stages of the Coronation Cup. Similarly, O'Brien was faultless in the Breeders Cup Turf of 2011, in which he made history by becoming one half of the first father-son combination to win a Breeders Cup race. Criticism was strong following the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last time, in which O'Brien anchored his charge a significant distance away from the front of the pack in a manouvere which many believe cost St Nicholas Abbey the race. Anchored a good ten lengths off the field, St Nicholas Abbey was eventually defeated by an ever-diminishing length-and-a-half.
On Wednesday, Aidan O'Brien enters both Robin Hood and Windsor Palace seemingly in an attempt to ensure a tag-team pacemaking effect to ensure the hottest pace possible to pick away at any chinks in Frankel's armour over this extended distance. A pace that should play into the hands of a mile-and-a-half proven performer such as St Nicholas Abbey, there are no concerns from the Juddmonte camp who quite clearly announced that Frankel will not be ridden any differently on Wednesday. To them, and to the many onlookers, he has already proved his is ready for a step up in trip such is the manner of his gallop out at the end of his races.
To the minority, Frankel has failed to achieve the epitome of his capabilities and to those few voices a defeat of St Nicholas Abbey on a solitary occasion may prove fruitless. However, to the majority, the people that have followed and been amazed by the capabilities of the Galileo colt, victory over St Nicholas Abbey will mark a defining moment and a further compliment to his ever expanding resume.
Planteur, Sri Putra and Godolphin's progressive Sussex Stakes second-placed finisher, Farhh, complete the field.
Photos Courtesy of Emma-Louise Kerwin (Goodtosoft.co.uk)
Read More
We all know the feeling. Every year right after the Breeders’ Cup, the hangover hits. For me, it...
Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes drew nine 3-year-old fillies set to go 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s...
Caitlinhergrtness , Canada's champion 3-year-old filly of 2024, looks to tally another graded-stakes win Saturday in the Grade...
Godolphin’s Encino has proven his versatility with victories on dirt, turf and all-weather surfaces and will look to add...
Yaupon continues his commanding performance in the 2025 freshman sire standings, recording five winners last week to extend...