Frankel is to face eight rivals as he bids to enhance his tall reputation to greater heights in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.
The brilliant all-the-way winner of the 2000 Guineas puts his 100 per cent record on the line as he goes for a third Group One success and a seventh career victory in all.
“Frankel seems very well and hopefully he will have a very good chance of continuing his unbeaten winning run,” trainer Sir Henry Cecil wrote on his website, www.henrycecil.com.
“He has been hailed as a future champion and if he can go on from where he left off and confirms that status it will be great for racing.”
However, Khalid Abdullah’s magnificent colt will be taken on by strong opposition as other talented three-year-olds attempt to knock him off his pedestal.
Richard Hannon’s Dubawi Gold, who was six lengths behind Frankel in second place at Newmarket, takes him on again after also occupying the runner-up spot in the Irish 2000 Guineas.
Aidan O’Brien, who won the Curragh Classic with Roderic O’Connor, relies on Zoffany.
David Simcock’s Dream Ahead could finally make his seasonal debut as connections look for suitable ground conditions, while Richard Fahey is keen to give Wootton Bassett another chance after he could only finish fifth in the French 2000 Guineas.
Marco Botti’s well-touted German 2000 Guineas winner Excelebration, Japanese challenger Grand Prix Boss, Neebraas, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, and Barry Hills’ Rerouted complete the line-up.
PA AAP TURF
