Henry Cecil’s highly promising Frankel, ante-post favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby, will put his unbeaten record on the line on Saturday when he is one of a maximum 10 possible runners in the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile at Ascot, writes Elliot Slater.
Frankel, winner of a Newmarket maiden on debut at Newmarket in August, impressed many observers when slaughtering two rivals in a conditions race at Doncaster earlier in the month in the manner of a potentially high class colt. That said, the race had lost much of its interest when his main market rival was withdrawn at the start, so Saturday’s race will be the first real test of his mettle. The half-brother to this year’s Lingfield Derby Trial winner Bullet Train will have to be on guard with Chesham Stakes winner Zaidan and the promising Titus Mills amongst the opposition, the last named (like Frankel) unbeaten in both starts so far, including when showing a good attitude to win a Goodwood listed race last time out.
For his part, Zaidan is on something of a recovery mission having looked a potential star when winning at Royal Ascot before running no sort of race and finishing last of four in listed company at Newbury on his only subsequent outing. He ran free at Newbury and apparently was unsuited by the easy ground, so if settling and returning to his old form would be a very good yardstick as to just how good Frankel really is.
Samuel Morse looks the best of a weaker than usual Ballydolye challenge for the race, but again will be a good point from which horse racing betting fans can judge the form, having chased home Pathfork, another leading candidate for next year’s 2000 Guineas, at a respectable distance on both of his last two outings at the Curragh.
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