Carl Harris Looks Back at a Fascinating Saturday at Ascot…Frankel is the Real Deal!
There was plenty of hype surrounding Frankel before the Royal Lodge at Ascot and in the early stages the race was run at a crawl but turning for home Tom Queally decided to show just what his mount was made of. He hit the turbo button (which turned out to be a hyperspeed button) to go away and win by 10 lengths, hands and heels, to record a time of just under 1 min 42.
A review of Saturdays Races Above
White Moonstone also maintained her unbeaten record, under Frankie Dettori, winning in contrasting in style to Frankel a hard fought battle getting home by a neck. The time was slower than that recorded by Frankel, and given the way the race was run, suggests that Frankel is in fact the real deal. Bookmakers reacted swiftly and cut him to as low as 2 to 1 for the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, but Henry Cecil raised stamina concerns about the Epsom trip.
Frankie Dettori, Ascot’s main man won the feature handicap aboard Redford, following up his easy Gold cup when last week. Although I managed to get out other handicap unscathed, thanks to a small saver on the favourite, I am kicking myself for ignoring the downright obvious. Still there is no reason to complain, having seen a fabulous day of racing.
The feature race was of course the Queen Elizabeth II stakes which was, on paper, a showdown between 2000 Guineas winner Makfi and Rip Van Winkle (last year’s winner). Canford Cliffs missed the race, which was a big shame.
Having traded around 9 to 4 when the entries were made Makfi. traded around even money before the race (SP 11-10) ,Rip Van Winkle second favourite and plenty of betting ring support for Poets Voice, probably the Frankie factor. Paddock watchers reported Dettori’s mount to be the pick of the paddock with a Rip Van Winkle looking his usual imposing self and Makfi being as relaxed as always.
It was Frankie Dettori who won just beating Rip van Winkle, in a photo, aboard Poets Voice. Never under estimate Frankie Dettori at Ascot.
Frankel dominates Ante-Post Markets….
It has been almost 35 years since Henry Cecil last produced a 2000 Guineas winner, but Ascot was left in little doubt that the Master of Warren Place holds all the aces for next year’s Classic following the victory of Frankel in the Royal Lodge this afternoon.
The son of Galileo put his unbeaten record on the line in the Group Two contest, but triumphed in the manner of his odds-on price – annihilating the small field with an awesome display of acceleration.
William Hill reacted by hardening his odds further at the top of the Classics’ betting to 2-1 from 5-1 for the 2000 Guineas, and 7-2 from 10-1 for the Derby. Hills also quoted odds of 6-1 that the bay colt completes the Guineas/Derby double.
Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’That was quite simply one of the stand-out performances of the season. It wasn’t a field filled with tough opposition, but the manner of Frankel’s victory simply oozed class. We suspect that he may be more suited to the mile of the Guineas than the Derby, but as Sea the Stars proved, sometimes, regardless of trip, they’re simply just too good for the rest.’’
2000 Guineas 2011: 2-1 Frankel (from 5-1), 8-1 Saamidd, 10-1 Pathfork, Strong Suit, 14-1 Dream Ahead, 16-1 Casamento, Dunboyne Express, Peter Martins, Zoffany, 20-1 King Torus, Native Khan, 25-1 Elzaam, 33-1 Ecliptic, Formosina, Glor na Mara, Libranno, Samuel Morse, Waiter’s Dream, Zaidan, 50-1 Toolain, Others available (EW 1/4 1,2,3)
Investec Derby 2011: 7-2 Frankel (from 10-1), 25-1 French Navy, Picture Editor, 50-1 Voodoo Prince
6-1 Frankel to win the 2000 Guineas & Derby
