Sir Henry Cecil has confirmed the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as the next intended port of call for incredible Sussex Stakes winner Frankel.
The 2000 Guineas and Royal Ascot winner stretched his unbeaten record to eight with a mesmerising defeat of Canford Cliffs at Goodwood on Wednesday.
The Galileo colt holds an entry in the Juddmonte International over York’s 10 furlongs (2000m) on August 17, but Cecil has all but ruled out a trip to the Knavesmire.
The Newmarket handler believes a return to Ascot on Champions Day will be his final start of the campaign, but expects Frankel to return next season as a four-year-old.
“I was thrilled and he seems fine afterwards. I’m looking forward to the next time he runs,” Cecil told Channel 4 Racing.
“He’ll have one more race and he’ll have a rest.
“If he’s well, he’ll run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and then the idea, all going well, is that he’ll stay in training next year.
“Then he can go for the Juddmonte and things like that.
“You’ve seen him four times already (this year) and hopefully if we don’t abuse him, you’ll see a lot of him next year.”
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, added: “Henry has always said he should end up at Champions Day, most probably in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
“The Juddmonte might be a little soon as it’s three weeks away.
“I believe he will stay in training next year and we’ll look at ending it there but, again, that is up to the Prince.
“I think the Breeders’ Cup is unlikely this year.”
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