Queally and Frankel are maturing nicely

Jockey Tom Queally believes he has matured in tandem with Frankel as they face possibly their biggest test yet in the Juddmonte International at York today.

After 12 victories in 12 starts, Sir Henry Cecil’s wonderhorse is stepping up to ten furlongs for the first time after having conquered all-comers over a mile.

Frankel’s victory by 11 lengths in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot showed how much he had matured compared to his scrambling success in the St James’s Palace Stakes the previous season. And Queally, who has partnered Frankel in all 12 victories, said: “I think he’ll get the trip and I’m looking forward to riding him.

“He’s got a huge following now, and rightly so. A horse of his calibre deserves a huge following so it’s good the public have latched on – we’ll be doing all we can to keep them happy. We’ve both grown up nicely together.”

While Cecil admits they are going into the unknown, he has no concerns by the extra two furlongs. “Frankel seems in good order at the moment leading into the Juddmonte,” said the Warren Place handler. “I do not think the distance is going to be a problem, although we are going into unknown territory.”

Jockey Joseph O’Brien is excited about being involved in the race and his mount, St Nicholas Abbey, is a new threat to Frankel.

But, while Frankel is stepping up in trip for the first time, St Nicholas Abbey’s best form is over a mile and a half. O’Brien does not expect the distance to be a problem, though. He said: “It doesn’t get much better than this, taking on Frankel with a horse like St Nicholas Abbey. He ran well at Ascot last time and has been in good form at home.

“The drop in trip is a question mark for some, but I don’t see it being too much of a problem.”

Farhh might have been well beaten by Frankel in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, but he was only just defeated over this distance by Nathaniel in the Eclipse. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor will make a last-minute decision on his participation.

He told www.godolphin.com: “Farhh is doing well, but we need rain to help his chances. We don’t want the ground to be too firm and we will make a decision on Wednesday. We are taking on Frankel again, who will be very tough to beat, but I am hopeful of a good run, providing the ground is suitable.”

Sri Putra was never a factor in the Eclipse, but enjoyed a course-and-distance victory in the York Stakes at the end of July. “One of the keys to him his fast ground, which he should get at York,” said trainer Roger Varian.