Frankel enhanced his tall reputation at Newmarket on Saturday with an impressive score in the Group 1, $507,000 Dewhurst Stakes, maintaining his perfect record while handing the disappointing Dream Ahead and Saamidd their first defeats.
Slowly away in a rough start under Tom Queally, the 4-6 Frankel was pulling rather hard as he moved into fifth place in the six-runner field of 2-year-olds going a straight seven furlongs. The Aidan O’Brien-trained maiden winner Roderic O’Connor was winging it on the front end, clear of the two longshots in the field, Waiter’s Dream and Glor Na Mara. Frankie Dettori had Group 2 Park Stakes winner Saamidd tucked along the rail in fourth as two-time Group 1 winner Dream Ahead trailed the field under William Buick.
There was no change in the order until Frankel began moving toward the front inside the three-eighths pole. Dream Ahead, who had never been further than six furlongs before, attempted to follow him but was soon struggling.
Frankel cruised to the lead approaching the three-sixteenths-pole and was soon clear, Queally always keeping the Galileo colt’s mind on his business. From that point the issue was no longer in doubt as Frankel strode out a 2 1/4-length winner over the game 25-1 Roderic O’Connor with Glor Na Mara third and Waiter’s Dream fourth. The 5-2 Dream Ahead weakened to finish fifth, beaten 6 3/4 lengths with the 7-1 Saamidd tailed off in last, 16 3/4 lengths behind Frankel, who was clocked in 1:25.73 on good to soft ground.
In following up on his remarkable 10-length victory in the one-mile, Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, Frankel, now 4 for 4, has declared himself the best 2-year-old in Europe. Named by owner Khalid Abdullah for Juddmonte Farm’s late American conditioner Bobby, Frankel enters winter quarters as the favorite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby.
Trainer Henry Cecil, who prior to the Dewhurst called Frankel “potentially the best I have ever trained,” was effusive in his praise afterwards. “I’ve never had a horse work like him as a 2-year-old,” he said. “The last one I remember who was similar would be Arazi. He goes into sixth gear.”
The Dewhurst is generally regarded as Britain’s definitive juvenile contest. The 2006 and 2007 winners, Teofilo and New Approach, were both named European 2-year-old champions with New Approach going on to win the Epsom Derby at 3. The 2004 Dewhurst winner Shamardal went on to win the French Derby while the 2005 winner, Sir Percy, would win the Epsom Derby, so there is every reason to believe that Frankel has a bright future ahead of him.
