Trying to beat Frankel is just a waste of time
Frankel had never gone beyond a mile until York and so there was always going to be a nagging doubt as to whether he would get an extra two furlongs plus.
The betting on Betfair was huge and when I stopped watching, shortly before the start, almost €8m had been matched on the race.
That could only mean one thing, numerous big punters believed there was at least a chance Frankel wouldn’t stay and were more than willing to lay him.
Returned at 1-10, he was close to 1-5 on Betfair. In normal circumstances such offers would be simply ridiculous, but there’s absolutely nothing at all normal about Frankel.
Plenty have described him as a freak and, if he were human, that would be regarded as a disgusting insult.
But, as a racehorse, there can hardly be a higher compliment. What he’s capable of doing isn’t natural and, as freaks go, has to be at the very top of the pile.
What Frankel did at York was really little different to what he achieved in most of his previous 12 races.
But, of course, the extra trip was the unknown factor and to see him breezing home seven lengths clear at the line was quite staggering.
The other thing about Frankel was how long it took Tom Queally to pull him up. As the camera stayed on the horse, after the finishing line, it was apparent that he had a ton left in the locker.
He bounded far beyond the post and at the end of a race that was run at a furious pace throughout.
Ballydoyle has often got its tactics wrong in the past, but you’d have to say were right on the money here, with their two pacemakers and St Nicholas Abbey ready to pounce in behind.
But trying to beat Frankel is just a waste of time and he went past some high-class horses in the straight as if they were standing still.
A word of praise surely has to go to Queally, who has developed into Frankel’s well nigh perfect assistant.
He shipped plenty of criticism, after partnering Frankel to a scrambling three parts of a length defeat of Zoffany in last year’s St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but learned from that day and has been impeccable every time since.
The plan now seems to be that Frankel will have one more race and then be retired. If it’s in the Arc, over a mile and a half, then here’s one who will not be laying him, no matter how short he is.
On what we saw at York he’ll stay 12 furlongs no problem at all and, realistically, there isn’t a horse around right now who will get him out of second gear.
If there was a sad note at York then it had to do with the condition of Cecil, who is battling the ravages of stomach cancer.
Like many people, I have a great fondness for him and well recall, as I’ve said here before, the days when he was a regular at the Curragh and always seemed to have a sherbet or two on board.
Those particular sherbets, however, only added to the mystique of the man and he always conducted himself with a real sense of style and decorum.
AN apple never falls far from a tree is an old adage and it came to mind watching Wexford Opera in action at Dundalk last Sunday.
Wexford Opera has been a talking horse for a while, even before he made his debut when second to Pedro The Great at Leopardstown.
Anyway, the world and its mother wanted to be with him at Dundalk, but he could only finish fourth behind a 25-1 shot, Eddie Lynam’s newcomer, Yulong Baoju.
Wexford Opera is, of course, a half brother to Glor Na Mara, who began life with an equally lofty reputation.
Indeed, Glor Na Mara made his debut in a Group 3 at the Curragh and finished fourth of four.
Then he ran two crackers to take second behind Zoffany in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, also at the Curragh, and returned to headquarters to chase home Pathfork in a Group 2.
As well as that Glor Na Mara was only beaten five lengths when third to Frankel in the Dewhurst at Newmarket.
The sad reality, though, is that he didn’t actually win a race until his 16th attempt, a lowly Dundalk maiden. His overall total is two wins in 22 races.
IF you’re a subscriber to the Irish Form Book have a glance at race number 1361, a maiden hurdle at Limerick won by Cuteasafox.
A note under the contest says the following: “Andrew McNamara interviewed regarding his riding in this race, explanation noted and reminded to be seen to make more of an effort in future.’’ Admirable you might think-as a punter. The only problem is that McNamara didn’t ride in the contest.
