Frankel Extends Run at Goodwood

The world's top-rated racehorse, Frankel, extended his unbeaten run to 12 by demolishing the field in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

A capacity crowd of 25,000 saw history unfold as Frankel was never troubled over the mile, emerging the winner by five lengths.

Jockey Tom Queally cruised his mount past the finishing post to claim the £300,000 prize for the winner.

Frankel will now make the step up to 10 furlongs at York in 21 days' time.

At 1-20 prior to the start, there was great expectation in the sunshine that Frankel, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah and trained by Sir Henry Cecil, would once again deliver on this course.

A winner by five lengths in last year's Sussex Stakes, opposition this time around came mainly in the form of second-favourite Farhh at 12-1, while Frankel's pace-setting half-brother Bullet Train and Gabrial were distant in the odds.

Frankel was last into the starting gate but once out made short work of leading the four-horse field.

Farhh, as expected, proved the sternest test for Queally and his colt and produced a burst of speed at halfway to challenge the leader.

But Frankel was having none of it and in the final two furlongs clinically and comprehensively extended his lead as he powered to the line.

As the finish approached jockey Queally looked over his right shoulder to gauge the distance of the field. He need not have worried - Frankel had it sewn up almost from the off.

Frankel, who has never been beaten, becomes the second colt in history to win seven Group One races in consecutive starts, equalling Rock of Gibraltar's 2002 record.

His move to a longer distance at the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on 22 August could signal his exit from the eight furlongs stage.

Frankel Seeking Glory at Goodwood

Glorious Goodwood begins on Tuesday, with most attention at the five-day meeting on the unbeaten Frankel.

Sir Henry Cecil's colt has won his first 11 races and is a long odds-on shot to defend his Sussex Stakes title against three rivals on Wednesday.

Richard Hannon seeks his third Lennox Stakes in five years on Tuesday with stable stalwart Libranno .

Last year's winner Hoof It is out of Stewards' Cup on Saturday, which also features the Nassau Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien had the choice of Irish Guineas winner Power, Jersey Stakes winner Ishvana or Reply for the coveted Group one-mile Sussex Stakes, but has not declared any of them.

Frankel's main test now looks likely to come from Godolphin's four-year-old Farhh, third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and second in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last time.

Stablemate and pacemaker Bullet Train,and Richard Fahey's Gabrial, who stepped up from handicap company to finish fifth in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, are the only other runners.

Sir Henry is continuing to have cancer treatment and will not be able to attend Goodwood to watch his prize four-year-old.

"Although I am able to train my horses, I'm not quite fit to go racing yet, but I hope to be fully recovered in the near future," he said.

"Everything has gone as we could have wished with Frankel since the Queen Anne Stakes. We gave him an easy time immediately after Royal Ascot before bringing him back into fast work.

"He has pleased us with his work and is going to the Sussex Stakes in good shape. We are taking one race at a time with him and are hoping that he can extend his unbeaten record."

Ladies' Day on Thursday features the Goodwood Cup over two miles, won last year by Frankie Dettori on Opinion Poll, who was second to Dettori and Colour Vision in this year's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

There are currently 43 horses entered for the Goodwood Mile on Friday, with John Gosden-trained four-year-old Trade Commissionerhighly regarded after completing successive wins over the distance in the Challenge Handicap at Sandown.

Hoof It, owned by golfer Lee Westwood and agent Chubby Chandler, would have been forced to carry a huge burden in the Stewards' Cup and now competes in Group races.

James Fanshawe's Hallelujah, third in the Summer Stakes at York last time, has been at the head of the market for some time and is still in contention for a start.

Also on the final day is the Group One Nassau Stakes, won for the last three years by Sir Henry's Midday, who has since been retired.

Timepiece is Sir Henry's offering this year, while Gosden has strong contenders in Izzi Top and The Fugue.

Goodwood organisers are confident that the Olympics will not have any impact on attendances at the picturesque West Sussex venue this week.

"We are expecting a full house, particularly on Wednesday, because of the great interest surrounding Frankel," Goodwood marketing executive Lucy Faith told BBC Sport.

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Frankel v Black Caviar Million

A £1m prize fund is being offered in an attempt to secure a clash between two unbeaten stars of international flat racing - Frankel and Black Caviar.

Goodwood Racecourse and sponsors Qipco are offering to increase the purse for the Sussex Stakes on 1 August from £300,000 should both horses run.

Frankel, trained in Newmarket by Sir Henry Cecil, has triumphed in his nine starts including last year's 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes.

Black Caviar has won all 19 races in her native Australia and could run in Europe during the summer.

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who helps run Qatar-based investment firm Qipco, said he hoped the financial incentive would help lure the pair to the one-mile Group One race at Goodwood.

"In their respective home countries, Frankel and Black Caviar have ignited levels of public interest matched only by true champions of the past," he said.

"The sport is blessed to have two such outstanding horses competing at the same time and consequently we felt it would be remiss not to make every effort to try to bring about the race everyone wants to see.

"The Sussex Stakes is arguably the only realistic chance of the two horses meeting, and we are delighted to make the gesture of increasing the prize fund to £1m as an incentive to the connections of both horses to run at Goodwood."

Frankel has won six races over a mile (eight furlongs), whereas Black Caviar has yet to try the distance and has run mainly over five and six furlongs, with one victory at seven.

Black Caviar, trained by Peter Moody, could run in the six-furlong Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Frankel is expected to sep up in trip from a mile later in the season and Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said the Goodwood prize fund would not affect where the horse ran.

"If we were to stay at a mile then running in the Sussex Stakes is a possibility, but I'm afraid the extra prize money is not going to influence any decisions," he told the Guardian. 

The Sussex Stakes is part of the Glorious Goodwood meeting and the British Champions Series, which aims to broaden the appeal of flat racing in the UK.