Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Frankel Farewell Seven at Ascot

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Frankel will face a maximum of seven rivals for his expected farewell in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Sir Henry Cecil's unbeaten four-year-old, the world's top-rated racehorse, will seek his 14th-straight victory.

Potential opponents include last year's winner, Cirrus Des Aigles, and the talented colt Nathaniel.

Frankel's stablemate Bullet Train, Declaration Of War, Master of Hounds, Ridasiyna and Pastorius complete the entries for the £1.3m contest.

The going at the Berkshire course on Monday was described as soft and the final field will be confirmed 48 hours before the race.

Frankel is considered one of the best racehorses of all time and his probable swansong, before being retired for a breeding career, has helped attract a sell-out crowd of 32,000.

He is likely to be a strong odds-on favourite, although further rain could improve the chances of his rivals causing an upset.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "It's all systems go. This is his biggest test to date."

French challenger Cirrus Des Aigles won the Prix Dollar at Longchamp last time out by nine lengths in heavy ground.

Nathaniel, who missed the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earlier in the month with a setback, finished a half-length second to Frankel when the pair made their racecourse debuts at Newmarket in August 2010 - the closest any horse has finished to the champion.

The Champion Stakes is Europe's most valuable mile-and-a-quarter race and the highlight of British Champions Day - the richest day in British racing.

Other races include the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, for which Excelebration is the odds-on favourite. The Queen will be at the course to cheer on her runner Carlton House.

Fame and Glory and Colour Vision are leading contenders in the Long Distance Cup, while Starspangledbanner and Society Rock are in the Sprint Stakes.

Last year's Oaks winner, Dancing Rain, remains on course to defend her Fillies' and Mares' Stakes title.


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