Frankel back in gallops action

Henry Cecil’s incredible colt Frankel stepped up his recovery from injury with a piece of work in Newmarket this morning.

The Khalid Abdullah-owned son of Galileo stretched his unbeaten record to nine during a stellar 2011 campaign, with a breathtaking performance in the 2000 Guineas one of the highlights of his career so far.

There were anxious moments earlier this month when the four-year-old suffered a setback during routine exercise, but a scan on his leg last week confirmed the world’s highest-rated Flat horse had suffered no serious damage and he was given the green light to get back to work.

The JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 19 remains his intended comeback target, but the owner’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, is keen to take things one day at a time.

“He did a little bit of work this morning. It was nothing very much, it was just a gentle piece, but he strode out well and everyone was very pleased,” said Grimthorpe.

“We’ll just see how we go. It was his first bit of work (after the injury) and he’s going to have to continue to please everyone.

“It is still the intention to run in the Lockinge, but as I said, we’ll just see how we go.”

Frankel has been given entries in both the one-mile Queen Anne Stakes and the 10-furlong Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.