Frankel v Canford Cliffs

[Ted]

Sussex Stakes (wednesday) Goodwood

Frankel BF 1.78
C.Cliffs BF 2.46

Favour Canford, won it last season, I wasn't happy with Frankels
last run & don't like it's price.

Frankel's been a sensation, running away from all opposition,
but thought the writing was 'on the wall' last time

would love to hear peoples views.....

[Rondetto]

Well I'm a huge fan of Canford Cliffs and have been since day 1. He's been fantastic for me as far as betting goes having backed him everytime he has won and only once has he let me down when he was beaten in France.

It's hard to turn your back on a horse you have followed but you have to be realistic and I can't see how he can possibly beat Frankel.

The small filed is in Frankels favour.

With only 4 runners Hughsie may not be able to settle Canford Cliffs as easily as he has in the past. I worry he could take a very strong hold if there's no early pace and burn himself out.

Frankel, even when Tom Queally settles him, he still pulls like a train anyway, but he's such a powerhouse it doesn't seem to take very much out of him. I swear this horse canters faster than some horses can gallop.

While there is a chance the pace could spoil any chance Canford Cliffs has what is certain is that Frankel goes from 0 to 60 a lot quicker than Canford Cliffs does.

As we know Frankel doesn't need to be held up but after his last race you can be almost certain he will be.

I doubt if he will be held up for as long as some pundits are suggesting.

My guess is Sir Henry and Tom Queally will adapt exactly the same tactics as they used in the Royal Lodge last season.

Run over 1mile Tom Queally restrained Frankel for 4 furlongs then let him go. Those tactics worked like a dream. He absolutely eplded between the 3f and 4furlong marker and there wasn't a hint of him stopping like there has been in his last two races.

If ridden similar to that I can't see what Canford Cliffs will be able to do about it. He a cracking horse and a beast when he's in full flight but by the time he gets there I think you'll find Frankel is home and hosed.

Normally I wouldn't mention weight for age as it is a tried and tested sytem, but how many 3 year olds are Frankel's? At level weights perhaps Canford would have a squeak but giving this monster weight and a beating may prove impossible.

As far as price goes that would be the last thing to influence me on which horse to back.

If I were in Canford Cliffs camp I wouldn't back him at his current odds I'd LAY Frankel and have 3 running for me instead of one as we just saw in the KG anything can happen.

I'm not into ratings but I hear strictly on Timeform figures Frankel should win by 4 lengths or do but they do say they don't expect hm to win that far.

I do!!!

[rwillia789]

Frankel to win easily

[Ted]

Didn't think any horse in the world could beat Canford Cliffs that easy...

[Alfred]

Hey,
I'm really clueless about horse racing but I'm trying to learn a bit more about what pays my bills.
I started trading 2 years ago and Sea the Stars was the big thing. They were saying he was the best in years. And now today they seem to go crazy about Frankel, saying he is as good as Sea the Stars and maybe the best miler ever. So is this only the result of the emotion of the moment or is this really a great period in history of horse racing with Frankel, Sea the Stars, Kauto Stars and over here we had a pretty good Zenyatta too?

[custard]

We have been lucky to see some wonderful horses over the last few years and Frankel has to be one of the best I have ever seen. My memory goes back to Mill Reef, Nijinsky et al. It's impossible to say that one horse was better than another when the timescale is so big. It is, however, possible to say that that a particular horse is of true star quality, and Frankel certainly is.

The others I have seen held in regards are :

Nijisky, La Lagune, Raffingora, Shergar, Mill Reef, Levmoss, and Alleged.

Jump horses, far too many great horses but my favourites, in no particular order :

Persian War, Bula, Arkle, Mill House, Sea Pigeon, Red Rum, Attivo, Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon, Istabraq, Crisp, L'Escargot, and Best Mate. Dawn Run too.

They just get to a standard which means that they will never be forgotten. Frankel is on hell of a horse and has just proved it. Richard Hannon, trainer of Canford Cliffs was gracious in defeat and acknowledged that Frankel was an extraordinary horse.

[pelican]

I have to add Dessie to your great list of greats custard

[Emkayracing]

And now today they seem to go crazy about Frankel, saying he is as good as Sea the Stars and maybe the best miler ever. So is this only the result of the emotion of the moment or is this really a great period in history of horse racing?

Racing falls in line with many other sports - each can offer current champions who are inevitably compared with previous greats. Frankel is the best of his generation, but how does he sit in the all-time list? Of course the answer is open to debate.

Connections have opted to aim at the 1m2f Juddmonte International for Frankel's next start. If So You Think also takes up his engagement in the contest it will be a real Heavyweight event!

Win or lose, Frankel has an immaculate pedigree and so a long and prosperous stallion career awaits after 2 more starts.

Once retired, racing will look for the next 'freak' - and so it goes on.... and on..

[Rondetto]

Well I went to school with Rabbie Burns so I've been around to see more than a few good uns.

Pretty easy to when it comes to Arkle there are no comparisons he was a one off we will never see the likes of again. His performances reeked of class none more than the day he knocked 16 seconds of the Sandown track record and was never out of second gear. He was so far ahead of his rivals they had to have two separate handicaps when he was entered. Had their not been a minimum weight they couldn't find jockeys light enough to ride the opposition.

As far as Frankel goes I would have to put him on a par with Sea Bird II although he's a much different type running at a different trip. Sea Bird II did the same to his opponents but glided rather than exploded like Frankel but they are without a shadow of doubt in my mind the best two horses to grace the European turf.

The only horse I would have trouble comparing Frankel to is Secretariat who still blows my mind every time I watch that race. What he did wasn't awesome it was bordering on the impossible. Well worth a look on You Tube if you haven't seen it.

Maybe it can't be proved it but I really don't agree you cant compare horse past and present.

Didn't we just do exactly that? I never thought I'd be opposing Canford Cliffs this season he's one of my favourite horses of all time but my eyes told me not even he could cope with Frankel or I would be posting saying that Frankel would beat him by 4 or more lengths.

Whether there's one year between horses or 40 years between them it doesn't take a genius to know that the likes of Istabraq would carried Katchit on his back and beat Punjabi in a canter.

Great news is they say If Henry wants to keep him in training nest year he can and his Knighthood will be in no hurry to send him to the sheds.

[Ted]

A dec ago yanks thought Arazi could fly to the moon, had a few amazing wins, then flopped in Breeders Cup 1 mile.

They can't talk, so can't say they feel ropey, or just don't fancy it.

[custard]

Great news is they say If Henry wants to keep him in training nest year he can and his Knighthood will be in no hurry to send him to the sheds.

Sir Henry made it clear this afternoon that the horse will have only one more race this season and will reappear next year.

[Emkayracing]

Sir Henry made it clear this afternoon that the horse will have only one more race this season and will reappear next year.

The initial talk was that he would head to York for Prince Khalid Abdullah's race, now the apparent destination is Ascot on Champions Day for the QEII. Frankel is expected to race beyond a mile for the first time next season.

Whatever they opt for, Juddmonte now have a valuable Galileo (Sadler's Wells) line to go to war with in the breeding stakes.



Sir Henry Cecil confirmed the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as the next intended port of call for incredible Sussex Stakes winner Frankel.

The 2000 Guineas and Royal Ascot winner stretched his unbeaten record to eight with a mesmerising defeat of Canford Cliffs at Goodwood on Wednesday.

The Galileo colt, owned by Khalid Abdullah, holds an entry in the Juddmonte International over York's 10 furlongs on August 17, but Cecil has all but ruled out a trip to the Knavesmire.

The Newmarket handler believes a return to Ascot on Champions Day will be his final start of the campaign,

but expects Frankel to return next season as a four-year-old.

"I was thrilled and he seems fine afterwards. I'm looking forward to the next time he runs," Cecil told Channel 4 Racing.

"He'll have one more race and he'll have a rest.

"If he's well, he'll run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and then the idea, all going well, is that he'll stay in training next year.

"Then he can go for the Juddmonte and things like that.

"You've seen him four times already (this year) and hopefully if we don't abuse him, you'll see a lot of him next year."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, added: "Henry has always said he should end up at Champions Day, most probably in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

"The Juddmonte might be a little soon as it's three weeks away.

"I believe he will stay in training next year and we'll look at ending it there but, again, that is up to the Prince.

"I think the Breeders' Cup is unlikely this year."

[custard]

They are to be congratulated on their aim to keep this horse in training. They could easily cash in now and make loads of money. I suspect, however, that this horse could turn into a "wonder horse" and in years to come people will talk of him as the leader in breeding stock. He could easily become a new "Saddler's Wells". I hope he avoids injury and I would like him to retire after he has won his second Arc

[luckynumberslevin]

Saw him in the flesh last wednesday and his a very fluent mover even at slow pace (above a walk) and just screams special. Way more to come from him physically and will see out further no doubt. But at a 12f he'll do it using pure class not stamina imo one more run will also allow him time to grow too. Frankely frankeltastic.