Frankel, the world’s highest-rated thoroughbred, confirmed his well-being with a racecourse gallop at Newmarket on Saturday.
The Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt’s future had been in jeopardy after he suffered a leg injury on April 11, but he received the all-clear to race on following a positive scan a week later.
The unbeaten four-year-old moved up the gears in his preparation for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 19 with a most positive piece of work under Tom Queally.
Owned by Khalid Abdullah, Frankel was put through his paces up the Rowley Mile alongside regular lead-horse Bullet Train and Jet Away.
The son of Galileo took a keen hold for Queally and soon burst clear of his stable companions in his customary exuberant fashion, stretching clear in tremendous style.
Frankel was returning to the scene of one of his finest days on a racecourse when he turned in a breathtaking performance in last season’s 2000 Guineas.
He went on to claim the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes during an unforgettable campaign which elevated him to the summit of the world thoroughbred rankings.
“He really enjoyed himself and was very relaxed,” Cecil said after the gallop.
“Going down to the start he was switched off and after the work he had a little bit of a blow.
“He’s grown a bit, he’s stronger and he’s getting much more sensible. That was the worry, but now he is settling and maybe there will be more improvement to come.
“I think everything looks good for the Lockinge, before which he will need another two to three bits of work, but at the moment everything is fine.
“If the ground is soft (at Newbury) I don’t think that will worry him at all, and we know he gets a mile really well.”
