‘Best is yet to come’ from Frankel

Sir Henry Cecil has claimed ‘the best is still to come’ from Frankel as the colt puts his unbeaten record on the line once more in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Britain’s richest ever Flat meeting.

Frankel is undoubtedly the star attraction on the inaugural Champions Day at Ascot and is also Cecil’s main weapon as he tries to catch Richard Hannon and win an 11th trainer’s title.

Having begun his Classic season way back in April at Newbury, Frankel has been on the go for a while but those closest to him are adamant he has matured mentally and physically as the campaign has gone on.

While Frankel has carried all before him this season, Cecil is loathe to laud him as the best he has ever trained – yet. “He is a very happy horse with a lot of energy – he never seems to get tired. Although he is very active, he is not that hard a horse to get fit. You can give him an easy time and he comes back pretty quick,” said Cecil. “I don’t particularly mind that it is on the straight course rather than the round at Ascot. I would not swap him, but no horse is a certainty.

“Frankel is potentially a very good horse – I think the best is still to come. If he stays right and everything goes to plan, I would like to think you will see a better horse as time goes on. I am not going to compare the best horses I have had over the years – they have been good friends to me.

“They have won at different distances, whether they be Ardross, Oh So Sharp or whoever they might be. They have been very good in their generations and distances. It would be very unfair to say this is the best I have ever had. I think this horse, as time goes on, will show you what he is and you may not even have to ask me the question.”

Frankel has seen off his own generation and sex in England, but Robert Collet’s Immortal Verse, who lays a strong claim to being the best three-year-old filly in Europe, presents a new problem. Connections of the Coronation Stakes winner are well aware of the task she faces, and are excited by the challenge. The daughter of Pivotal will be having her first start since 15 August, after an over-reach forced her to miss the Prix du Moulin. Brendan Hayes, manager of owner Richard Strauss’ Kilfrush Stud in Ireland, said: “Everything appears to be going well. She definitely looks like the champion three-year-old filly, but time will tell. It’s going to be very tough on Saturday, but very exciting.”

Hannon never shirks a challenge and runs both Dick Turpin and Dubawi Gold. Richard Hughes was to ride Dick Turpin but, having relinquished his licence in protest over the new whip rules, Christophe Soumillon, who won a Group 1 in Italy on him last time out, maintains the partnership. Johnny Murtagh rides Dubawi Gold, who will be kept on the go after this with a trip to Hong Kong in the pipeline.

Frankie Dettori heads into the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot “under the radar” on Dubai Prince.

There are few major races in the British racing calendar that still elude the Italian rider, and perhaps the switch from Newmarket to his beloved Ascot can bring about a change of luck. A market mover in recent days, Dubai Prince is very much the dark horse in this season’s renewal of the ten furlong Group 1 as, although he is officially the lowest-rated horse in the field, he remains unbeaten. He was hugely impressive on his belated seasonal reappearance at Newbury last month, but has plenty on his plate against the likes of multiple Group 1 winner So You Think, King George hero Nathaniel and Cecil’s duo Midday and Twice Over.

“Dubai Prince is a new horse arriving with fresh legs. He’s three from three, but is basically an unknown quantity,” said Dettori of the colt. “I’m looking forward to riding him. He’s come in under the radar a bit and we can go there with no pressure.”

Meanwhile, James Fanshawe is refusing to pick between his star speedsters Deacon Blues and Society Rock as the pair clash for the first time in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes.

After victory in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Deacon Blues has taken the step up to Pattern company in his stride, with a runaway Curragh victory sandwiched by two successes at Newbury. Society Rock is a proven Group 1 performer, having landed the Golden Jubilee at this year’s Royal meeting, and has backed that up with fair efforts in defeat. “It’s good to be going there with the pair of them and obviously for Deacon Blues, I hope the ground hasn’t dried out too much,” said Fanshawe. “Both horses have had a nice preparation for the race and both look very well. One is drawn one side and one is drawn the other, I’m not sure who has got the best draw.”

Freddie Head’s Moonlight Cloud was sent off favourite for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of the campaign, but now looks a sprinter of the highest calibre judged on her brilliant display in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. “She is coming back to six furlongs for the first time but I don’t think that will be a problem, especially at Ascot, as it is not a fast six furlongs,” he said.