Tom Queally believes Frankel still had plenty left in the tank in Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes and that the unbeaten colt will get 10 furlongs “no problem”.
The brilliant 2000 Guineas winner was sent in pursuit of his pacemaker Rerouted after just three furlongs (600m) and was well clear with a quarter of a mile (400m) to run.
However, the pack was closing in rapidly inside the final 100 metres and Zoffany got to within three-quarters of a length – but Queally feels he was only idling in front.
“The bottom line from the St James’s Palace Stakes was that Frankel won. He’s still unbeaten and now won three Group One races,” Queally said on www.racinguk.com.
“Sir Henry (Cecil) and I decided we should try and kill them off at halfway and that’s ultimately what we did. He was idling as he was in front for a long way, and I think he could have found more if he needed to.
“You have to remember he’s never been eyeballed, but I think he’d pull out more if he did get into a battle. All he wants to do is try for you.
“He settled well and I think we can ride him differently now. I am not sure what his target is, but the owner Prince Khalid (Abdullah) is keen to win the Juddmonte International, and I think he’ll stay 10 furlongs (2000m) no problem.”
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