Ascot romp extends Frankel run
OWNER Sir Henry Cecil believes Frankel is still improving after the world’s highest-rated racehorse extended his unbeaten record to 11 races with an explosive victory yesterday at Royal Ascot.
Frankel, who went off 1-10 favourite in the Queen Anne Stakes, beat Excelebration by a staggering 11 lengths after jockey Tom Queally conjured an electric turn of pace in the last two furlongs of the mile-long contest.
“He’s a great horse,” said Cecil. “He did exactly what I thought he would but he’s still improving.” On plans for the colt, he added: “He looks like he can stay a mile and a quarter so we’ll keep options open.”
Queally said: “It looks like he’s improving. He settled, he travelled, he got everything else off the bridle when I was still sitting there. He’s amazing. That’s his best performance. He ticked all the boxes, he did everything right.”
Elsewhere on the first day of Royal Ascot, Kieren Fallon rode Most Improved to success in the St James’s Palace Stakes, while Hong Kong 12-1 shot Little Bridge won the King’s Stand Stakes. Undefeated Dawn Approach earned his fourth career win in the Coventry Stakes while Willie Mullins continued National Hunt trainers’ fine record in the Ascot Stakes with Simenon.