Awesome Frankel set to be star of the new Flat show

And with Sir Henry Cecil’s unbeaten wonderhorse still on course for the Juddmonte International, York’s richest race, the unsatisfactory start to the new campaign should be forgotten by high summer.

At least the 2012 campaign begins with today’s ultra-competitive William Hill Lincoln, the traditional curtain-raiser, at Doncaster – a welcome contrast to the low-key midweek start that the Flat has endured on occasion.

The downside is that it is overshadowed by the Dubai World Cup, the richest night in global racing where de Sousa – and most of racing’s superstars – will be in action.

It is also not helped by Doncaster clashing with an all-weather Flat meeting at Kempton which has attracted Malton’s Paul Hanagan, the twice champion, and dual St Leger-winning jockey William Buick.

Both had been slated in earlier this week to ride for Godolphin – de Sousa’s new employers – in the Lincoln before changes to their riding arrangements.

The lack of impetus to the season will be further compounded a fortnight today when the Grand National, and the conclusion to an enthralling jumps season, takes centrestage.

While racing’s regulars tolerate the blurring of the seasons, and an even more haphazard fixture list, it does little to enthuse potential newcomers to this great sport – and racing needs new followers to help withstand the recession.

The sport’s narrative is not helped, either, by the Flat title race losing some of its prestige as some of racing’s more illustrious jockeys prioritise big money races over the accumulation of winners.

This year’s contest is even more wide open with Malton-based Hanagan, the reigning champion, now first jockey to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum following the retirement today of Richard Hills. While still retaining his links to Richard Fahey, his priorities are elsewhere.

As such, it was refreshing to hear de Sousa confirm his title aspirations. Denied by Hanagan on the final day of last season, he has been signed up by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation.

Yet, with Frankie Dettori concentrating on the major races and Derby-winning rider Mikael Barzalona – another new Godolphin recruit – coming to terms with a first full season in England, Brazilian-born de Sousa will prosper.

He could have a solitary booking for Godolphin at lesser meetings, and then pick up a full book of spare rides, exploiting the connections that he made while based in Thirsk.

At least he has been clear about his title aspirations that begin after tonight’s Meydan meeting where he partners Fox Hunt, the horse that carried him to Royal Ascot glory last June when trained by Mark Johnston, and then the outsider Mendip in the World Cup.

“I was delighted when they (Godolphin) called me and asked me to join one of the best racing outfits in the world,” he said. “I never thought I would be in this position. In the new job I shall be there to serve Godolphin when they call on me, but, as far as the title goes, I’ll have a go.

“I shall be riding out for Godolphin most days, although I shall ride out for other people as well. I will be travelling around the country and am really looking forward to the new season.”

One horse de Sousa is unlikely to ride is the unbeaten Frankel – the mount of Tom Queally.

The Galileo colt and Guineas winner is unbeaten from nine starts, and it is to the credit of Sir Henry Cecil and owner Prince Khalid Abdullah that the colt will remain in training as a four-year-old.

Most champions retire to stud at the end of their three-year-old season, like Sea The Stars who won an unprecedented six Group One races – including York’s Juddmonte International – before beginning his stallion duties at the end of 2009.

York is a natural target for Frankel – Juddmonte, sponsors of the £725,000 International, is Abdullah’s breeding arm and he is keen for his horse of a lifetime to prove his credentials over a mile-and-a-quarter in order to enhance future stud fees still further.

Frankel will reappear over a mile in Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes on May 19, but Cecil is delighted with the horse’s growing maturity.

“He’s grown and he’s stronger. He’s beginning to settle well and mentally he has grown up. As long as he keeps right, he could be a better horse this year than last year,” said the trainer. “We’ll start off over a mile and we’ll feel our way. Whether he runs at Royal Ascot over a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter, time will tell.

“Eventually he’ll hopefully be running a mile-and-a-quarter, hopefully by Juddmonte time.

“Every day is another day and I’m always happy after I see him walking across the road after he’s cantered. Things can happen to horses.”

That Frankel and Juddmonte continue to be mentioned in the same sentence can only help York maintain its reputation as the country’s finest racecourse because of the premium that it places on quality.

It knows that prize money attracts the best horses – and that, in turn, leads to bigger attendances and a significant boost to the surrounding economy.

It explains why prize money this season is being increased by four per cent to £5.2m, with the Juddmonte International – York’s richest race on August 22 – the centrepiece of the track’s first £1m raceday. This is more than a one-off – the Betfred Ebor, Europe’s oldest handicap and won last year by Brian Ellison’s Moyenne Corniche, will now be worth £225,000 and the winter has, once again, seen extensive improvements carried out to the horse walkways and spectator facilities, including the provision of new flat-screen TVs for racegoers.

Such foresight guarantees a winning season for York.

All they need is Frankel, the best horse trained by the mercurial Cecil, to turn up as expected and wow the crowds just as Sea The Stars did in 2009.

For, if he does, it will be the defining moment of a Flat season that should be rich on quality following what could be a hesitant start.

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