Champion Frankel earns his rest

Frankel signed off for 2011 with yet another flawless performance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

Billed as the star of the show on the inaugural Qipco British Champions Day, Sir Henry Cecil’s colt took his unbeaten record to nine by demolishing his old rival Excelebration by four lengths.

Although he did not quite produce the fireworks of the 2000 Guineas or Sussex Stakes, there was a quiet assurance to this display.

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Jockey Tom Queally’s confidence never wavered as his mount’s three-parts brother Bullet Train fired off in front, sitting motionless and almost alone down the centre of the track.

It soon appeared inevitable that those who took the odds of 4-11 would be soon collecting as this equine treasure strode to the front with a furlong to run and the applause from his adoring public commenced.

“I’m very happy. He did everything that we asked, we weren’t trying to catch pigeons or anything, we just wanted to win nicely,” said Cecil. “Next year, he will easily get a mile-and-a-quarter.

“It’s been a long year and he won’t run again, he’ll be put away for the winter.

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“He’s a champion, he’s out of the ordinary and hopefully he will continue to prove himself next year.”

Cirrus Des Aigles (12-1) was a brave winner of the Qipco Champion Stakes – but the win was tarnished by jockey Christophe Soumillon picking up a five-day ban for using his whip six times inside the final furlong.

A terrific performance from Corine Barande-Barbe’s five-year-old in the richest race ever run in Britain was overshadowed when news emerged around 20 minutes after the race that Soumillon was involved in a stewards’ inquiry regarding the use of his whip.

The Soumillon ban took most of the gloss off a tremendous training performance from a relatively small trainer, who has just 32 horses at her Chantilly base.

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Aidan O’Brien’s giant So You Think looked to have done everything correct, having tracked King George winner Nathaniel into the straight and taking up the running over a furlong out.

However, Soumillon had his move covered and Cirrus Des Aigles responded willingly for pressure.

Snow Fairy had little room in the straight for Olivier Peslier but once in the clear Ed Dunlop’s filly flew and could possibly be considered a slightly unlucky loser.

A return to Ascot proved just the ticket for Fame And Glory (3-1) as the Gold Cup winner bounced back to his best to land the Qipco Long Distance Cup, the opening race of the inaugural British Champions Day.

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Aidan O’Brien’s five-year-old had turned in two dismal displays since his fantastic win at the Royal meeting back in June, but Jamie Spencer was always going well.

O’Brien said: “Everybody knew his big day this year was the Ascot Gold Cup, and he was trained very hard for that.

“It’s been a privilege to have him this year and to have him next year would be great.”

James Fanshawe’s Deacon Blues continued his amazing winning run with a dominant display in the Sprint under Johnny Murtagh, who struck again with Dancing Rain for William Haggas in the Fillies’ And Mares’ Stakes.

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