Cecil wishes Frankel well in new career

Published on 09/11/2012 00:00

SIR Henry Cecil bade farewell to Frankel yesterday as the world’s best racehorse left his Warren Place stable in Newmarket to begin his new career as a stallion.

The four-year-old colt made the short journey to his birthplace Banstead Manor Stud where he will take up stallion duties in 2013.

“There is no doubt Frankel has been a brilliant racehorse. I am pretty certain that there has never been a better or more talented thoroughbred,” said Cecil. “He had the speed to be a champion sprinter and then, once he grew up and settled, he got a distance with a turn of foot that makes champions.

“Today is a sad day in some ways for us as he has given us so much pleasure over the last three years. But I want to thank Frankel for so much – for being such a very special part of my training career.”

The son of Galileo left the racing scene with an unbeaten record of 14, his final racecourse appearance coming in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot last month.

The champion thoroughbred received an equally warm welcome at Banstead Manor from the Juddmonte team, including general manager Philip Mitchell, “In the foaling unit on 11 February 2008 at 11.40pm, little did we realise that we were witnessing the birth of a phenomenal racehorse,” he said.

Frankel will be served by the best mares, with potential partners including the unbeaten Australian mare Black Caviar and Midday, who spent her racing days at the Cecil stable.

Meanwhile, Kieren Fallon has been hit with a five-day suspension for appearing to strike his mount, Two Sugars, at the start at Lingfield. The six-times champion jockey will sit out racing from 22-24, 26-27 November after the local stewards found Fallon guilty of improper conduct.