Bookmakers intend to put their full weight behind a campaign to have Frankel and his trainer Sir Henry Cecil’s achievements marked across the general sporting world. In 2010 racing pulled together to help champion National Hunt jockey Tony McCoy to become Sports Personality of the Year. Now a similar task… Read More »
Frankie Dettori could bid to become champion jockey for a fourth time after ending his long association with Godolphin. The Italian is going freelance in 2013 after being retained by Sheikh Mohammed’s operation for the last 18 years, during which time he won the title three times in 1994, 1995… Read More »
America’s leading female jockey Chantal Sutherland has announced her retirement at the age of 36. Sutherland went home to Canada to ride in the final races of her career on Sunday and then announced her retirement in a lengthy statement on her website. There was no fairytale ending with Sutherland… Read More »
The Breeders’ Cup Mile is likely to be the next mission for Excelebration as Aidan O’Brien believes the horse is still “on the upgrade” after the four-year-old ran out an impressive winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Trainer Aidan O’Brien said there was still improvement in the… Read More »
Cirrus Des Aigles is likely to have another crack at the Hong Kong Cup in December after his fighting second to Frankel in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe is keen to give her stable star another chance at the mile-and-a-quarter (2000m)feature after he was fifth… Read More »
Italian jockey Frankie Dettori has ended his 18-year permanent association with Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed’s famous horseracing stable. Dettori, who has ridden nine English Classic winners for Godolphin, says he needs a “new challenge” but will still compete in the stable’s blue silks on a freelance basis. Dettori said on Sunday… Read More »
Frankel will slowly prepare for life as a stallion at Banstead Manor Stud near Newmarket after bowing out with a perfect record of 14 wins from 14 starts in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. It was not as pretty to watch as so many of his other majestic performances but… Read More »
Dermot Weld showed why he has such a tremendous record around the world by displaying his unique art with a double on Champions Day at Ascot. The master Irish trainer has captured major global events such as the Melbourne Cup twice and the Belmont Stakes in America, as well as… Read More »
Frankel produced perhaps his finest performance on Saturday to retain his unbeaten record with his 14th victory in the Group One Champion Stakes (2000m). The Henry Cecil-trained colt — winning his 10th Group One race and likely to be his last — had stumbled out of the barrier but recovered… Read More »
Frankel is still set to head a star-studded cast on Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) as long as the ground is considered safe for the world’s highest-rated racehorse. The going at the Berkshire track on Friday afternoon eased from soft all round to soft on the straight… Read More »
Irish jockey Tom Queally has been the unsung hero of racing superstar Frankel’s 13-race unbeaten run. But even if the great horse wins his 14th and likely final race at Ascot on Saturday, don’t expect the 28-year-old Irishman to be pushing himself to the front to claim the credit. For… Read More »
Presvis, the leading British-trained money-earner of all time, on Wednesday afternoon died from colic at his retirement home in Normandy. The much-travelled eight-year-old, trained in Newmarket by Luca Cumani, signed off from racing this spring having earned over 4.3 million pounds in prize money. He was twice a winner at… Read More »
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has admitted he is “not as keen as he was” to continue the amazing career of Kauto Star. The 12-year-old bounced back to his brilliant best last season to win a fourth Betfair Chase and a record-breaking fifth King George VI Chase. He then suffered a… Read More »
Sir Henry Cecil credits the “inspiration” of Frankel with helping him in his ongoing battle against illness. Cecil’s career hit a low point in 2005 when he saddled only 12 winners, but the victory of Light Shift in the 2007 Oaks signalled a return to the big time. The winners… Read More »
Sir Henry Cecil has admitted Frankel will be heading into the unknown in Saturday’s Qipco Champion Stakes if the ground turns heavy. Ascot has been hit by consistent rain in the build-up to Champions Day and following another five millimetres overnight, clerk of the course Chris Stickels has mentioned the… Read More »
The Ascot track is expected to be soft for Frankel’s farewell in the Champion Stakes despite a heavy amount of rain falling on the Berkshire track this week and more forecast. Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels reports the track to be taking the rainfall well but conceded the… Read More »
Henry Cecil may come from an aristocratic background and have been knighted for his services to racing but the legendary trainer remains to the race-going public simply “Our ‘Enry”. It is a testament to his enduring popularity that a sell-out crowd of 40,000 will be at Ascot on Saturday not… Read More »
Frankel will remain the top rated horse of all time whether he rounds off his career with his 14th win in 14 starts or loses in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Form bible Timeform rates Henry Cecil’s star a stone (6kg) better than Champion Stakes second favourite Cirrus… Read More »
Joshua Tree is unlikely to use his well-earned entry into the Breeders’ Cup after his second victory in the Canadian International on Sunday evening. The Group One at Woodbine forms part of the “Win And You’re In” series for the American jamboree next month, but trainer Marco Botti would rather… Read More »
Frankel will have to overcome his biggest test in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday if he is to retire unbeaten in 14 races, the racing manager for owner Prince Khalid Abdullah says. Teddy Grimthorpe was speaking after the latest forfeit stage left just seven rivals to oppose the… Read More »
