Frankel is horse of year again

Published on 14/11/2012 01:47

Frankel has been named Cartier Horse Of The Year for the second time.

Having won the award last year, Frankel, who was unveiled as the winner at an awards ceremony in London last night, joins Ed Dunlop’s mare Ouija Board, who won the accolade in 2004 and 2006 on the list of dual 
winners.

Owned and bred by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Frankel is now standing at the Prince’s Banstead Manor stud in Newmarket.

He was trained throughout his unbeaten 14-race career by Sir Henry Cecil, who said: “All of us at Warren Place are thrilled that Frankel’s achievements this year have been recognised with him winning this most prestigious award for the second time running. Frankel, with his brilliance, has been a great ambassador for British Racing and has captured the hearts of so many people, some of whom have never been racing in their lives. Thank you Frankel and to everyone that has voted for him.”

Unfortunately Cecil himself was not well enough to attend the ceremony.

Frankel beat three-times 
Classic winner Camelot, Nathaniel, Cirrus Des Aigles and Excelebration to the main award and was also named the winner of the Cartier Older Horse category.

Black Caviar took the Cartier Sprinter Award, Camelot won the three-year-old category, The Fugue was crowned the best three-year-old filly and Dawn Approach was named two-year-old champion colt. Certify was the best juvenile filly.

Ascot Gold Cup winner 
Colour Vision won in the Cartier stayers category.

Meanwhile, a new section of hybrid turf and fibresand track installed at Musselburgh’s jump track has won the approval of racing officials and jockeys. The 14 x 170 metre strip located on the winning post bend has been installed at a cost of £100,000 to improve safety for horses and jockeys.

The composite track came through with flying colours at Musselburgh’s first meeting of the season last week and Chris Dennis, the British Horseracing Authority’s Inspector of Courses, praised Musselburgh for its foresight. He said: “This is a welcome addition to improving the safety of both jockeys and horses and the first of its kind at UK racecourse. The initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”

After racing on it for the first time, Grand National winning jockey Jason Maguire said: “This bend is quite tight and narrow and the turf tends to get quite cut up during the winter. The fibresand surface provided a really good grip and improves the riding conditions at Musselburgh.”

Other racecourses have expressed an interest in how Musselburgh have adapted the track

Bill Farnsworth, general manager at Musselburgh said: “Historically, we have a problem on this bend with excess wear and tear which causes the ground to become loose and a potential hazard. We are delighted with the results so far.”