Frankel!

[Flanders]

What a horse! Any idea where a replay is located? I want to see that again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nndrUxudI7M

I don't know if its just my computer but the video is choppy.

[Dusty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nndrUxudI7M

I don't know if its just my computer but the video is choppy.

THANK YOU! Video is choppy for me too..

[Kurenai]

I would not start him in the BC mile. If there is a chance he is doing okay on dirt, he would be one of the front runners for the classic. He has so much natural speed I think his form could transfer well. Doesn't matter anyway, he is done for this year.

I can't wait for his 4yo campaign and I'm really, really happy that they keep him in training. Woohoo!

[StarGirl11]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nndrUxudI7M

I don't know if its just my computer but the video is choppy.

Whomever recorded it must have had a poor connection judging by you can see it buffering every little bit. The one replay that I was hoping would be decent was some idiot who decided to upload the St. James Palace under the name of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in spite of it stating several time it was not was the QE II in the video.

Edit: Went back to see if the guy had changed the title. Nope. My comment to him to change the title apparently didn't go through and now their is some weird song in the background instead of the track announcer.

[arkle]

Frankel had stablemate Bullet Train as a pacesetter today, though he's had a few different ones.

Not only was he his pacemaker (not "setter"), but Bullet train is also 3/4s brother to Frankel. Talk about keeping it in the family.

Pacemakers are pretty normal in G1 races in Europe, sometimes there will be multiple pacemakers. But usually just the big outfits like Juddmonte, Wildenstein, Coolmore, Godolphin, Aga Khan etc. Most mere mortals can't afford the extra entry fee or have a horse of good enough quality to sacrifice as a pacemaker.
Outside of G1 level you will almost never see a pacemaker.

[slewobarney]

Frankel 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

[ThreeMustangs]

Nice column by Steve Haskin on Frankel:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse...y-frankel.aspx

I especially like this para:

"When Bobby Frankel died in Nov. 2009, it’s as if his spirit was whisked away to England, manifesting itself inside a yearling colt by Galileo. Why would Juddmonte name a son of Galileo after Frankel, rather than a colt with an American pedigree who could show off his brilliance in the States? Did they know something? Was it gut instinct? Was this particular Galileo yearling running around his paddock cursing out his fellow yearlings and finding something to complain about? Or perhaps he walked up to the fence one day and boldly stated he was going to be a super horse, and if you didn’t believe him you were a moron."

[Ballerina]

Nice column by Steve Haskin on Frankel:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse...y-frankel.aspx

I especially like this para:

"When Bobby Frankel died in Nov. 2009, it’s as if his spirit was whisked away to England, manifesting itself inside a yearling colt by Galileo. Why would Juddmonte name a son of Galileo after Frankel, rather than a colt with an American pedigree who could show off his brilliance in the States? Did they know something? Was it gut instinct? Was this particular Galileo yearling running around his paddock cursing out his fellow yearlings and finding something to complain about? Or perhaps he walked up to the fence one day and boldly stated he was going to be a super horse, and if you didn’t believe him you were a moron."

Great article. Thanks for posting. Haskin with his usual way with words. I wax eloquent.

[drjohnh]

thanks for posting, i would say that is one of haskin's best columns and i have plenty of favorite ones saved

[BornToWin]

Steve's story illustrates the power of a name, eh? Funny thing, names.

This is an amazing horse from an outstanding family. Congratulations to all his connections. He is beautiful and exciting.

[second_glance]

A provisional RPR of 139+ has been awarded to Frankel, matching Dubai Millennium's 2000 Dubai World Cup romp as the highest recorded since RPRs began.

On grass Frankel is now out on his own after surpassing the previous best of 138, achieved by both Daylami and Sea The Stars.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...n-qeii/932495/

[Kurenai]

But the point that Steve made that intrigues me the most is what I've wondered about for a long time -- if a horse with speed couldn't just CLEAN UP in European turf racing given the lack of speed consistently shown by all their horses. Frankel looks to be showing me what I thought could happen.

Usually you don't have turf horses that carry their speed over such a distance. He's a real stand out this season and that makes it look way too easy. A horse usually doesn't go a high speed and then kicks into 5 more gears at the end. I am still wondering how the hell he does that.

What really impressed me was when Frankels jock moved WAY too early and he continued sprinting and sprinting and sprinting. He only started to struggle and slow down the last 100 meters or so.

I am really wondering how Frankel would do on dirt, I think he wouldn't have a problem with it. I really hope that we will get to see it next year! *crosses fingers* Although at this rate I'm already over the moon that he ain't retiring.

[Kurenai]

There's a good replay now up on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYOuBakAIb4

[Oh So Sharp]

Over a mile he can get away with that speed but by the fractions he still accelerated at the end, Like most euro horses. Speed isn't what makes him fantastic, it's his ability to accelerate twice in a race, SYT is fast but that hasn't made him a Unbeatable and it's also why American turf horses usually flop here. He has everything he needs to dominate here not just as simplistic as a lack of euro pace.

[Unknown Factor]

I have been following horse racing since 1994. Lately it seems the Europeans have an "All time great" every single year. Zarkava, Goldi, Sea The Stars...these were all great horses, but I would not call any of them one of the best of all time...until now. Frankel is transcendent. This is the best horse I have ever personally followed during his/her career. I know he has yet to stretch out, but I have never watched a horse show such brilliance and such dominance over world class competition. This, finally, is truly that horse of a lifetime that the European contingent of this board has been talking about. We are all very lucky to get to see him run again next year. I would love to see him come here to contest the classic.

[Blue Jeans]

Nov. 15th, 2011 .... Cartier Awards

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/bl...artier-awards/

>The nomination list is out for the 21st Cartier Racing Awards – European horse racing’s equivalent of the Oscars, reports Brisnet. One of the most coveted awards is the Cartier Horse of the Year, and this year’s nominations include Frankel, Goldikova and So You Think.<

ETA: He wins! http://www.paulickreport.com/news/bl...e-of-the-year/

[brigadier gerard]

Grimthorpe post Cartier:
http://media.teamtalk.com/podcast/gr...101_765041.mp3

[PJMIII]

Frankel set for first 2012 run in Newbury's Lockinge Stakes

Unbeaten Frankel looks set to open his 2012 campaign in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on 15 May.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/hors...g/16033203.stm

[second_glance]

Returned to the gallops today for the first time this year. "We're still aiming towards the Lockinge at Newbury."

http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2012/...medium=twitter

[second_glance]

He is gorgeous to behold! This morning on the gallops.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater