Return to York possible for Frankel

The even better news is that York remains on the list of provisional race targets that the evergreen Sir Henry Cecil outlined yesterday for Frankel’s four-year-old career.

The master trainer was speaking after a public workout ahead of next month’s Qipco-sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot where Frankel, and Tom Queally, hope to extend their unbeaten streak to nine races.

This blue riband race is over a mile – Frankel raced over seven furlongs when winning a three-runner affair at Doncaster a year ago – but Cecil is considering stepping him up to 10 furlongs next season with a trip to the Breeders’ Cup a thrilling possibility likely to bring the horse’s racing career to a close before he begins stud duties.

“He could, I’m not saying he will, as it’s a long year, go to the Lockinge (for his first run as a four-year-old) as I like to start them off over a shorter distance,” said Cecil.

“Then there’s the Prince of Wales’s or the Queen Anne at Ascot, and you could do the Sussex or the Eclipse. There are a lot of choices.

“He will probably be OK for the Juddmonte next year. The Prince (Frankel’s owner Khalid Abdulla) has supported the Juddmonte for 22 years and had not won it which rather irritated him.

“His first idea was to go to this year’s Juddmonte with Frankel but I did not think it was the moment to do so yet. He wanted to win the Juddmonte so badly that I had to pick some things up and try and win it for him.

“If Frankel retired next year, maybe the Prince will decide to finish in the Breeders’ Cup, as he loves the Breeders’ Cup. I’m not sure I’d be too happy running him on dirt, but time will tell.”

The Galileo colt justified the winter hype with a scarcely believable performance in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when he rendered his pacemaker redundant after a mile.

He also showed a remarkable turn of foot in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before deposing the talented miler Canford Cliffs with an awesome performance in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes last time out.

The York executive are keen for Frankel to grace their turf – Abdullah, after all, sponsors the 10-furlong International through his Juddmonte Farms breeding empire. It remains the richest race in the Yorkshire racing calendar.

Frankel was due to run in last month’s renewal until Cecil favoured the Sussex Stakes, leaving Abduallah to finally break his jinx in the race with Twice Over and Midday filling the first two positions.

Yesterday, Frankel was accompanied by two work companions for a spin on the Watered Gallop in Newmarket, with Queally doing the steering.

He readily swept clear of Bullet Train and another stablemate to leave Cecil satisfied that his star colt is maturing all the time.

He said: “I gave Frankel a rest after Goodwood, quite a long rest, and I decided to build him up a little bit early, with the option of bringing him back a bit if I need to, with the QEII in mind. I’d rather be ahead of time than try to catch a train.

“He’s coming along very nicely and did a nice piece of work. Physically, he looks well, but he’s growing up a lot mentally. He used to take a keen hold but now he’s far more relaxed.

“Tom rode him as I wanted him to have plenty of confidence in the horse and to find out he’s easier to ride now than he was earlier.”

On what promises to be an enthralling Champions’ Day at Ascot, Cecil will also hold an enviable hand in the Qipco Champion Stakes as Twice Over and Midday do battle again.

Twice Over supplied Ian Mongan with a deserved big-race victory at York and will keep the ride at Ascot, with Queally maintaining his partnership on Midday.

Cecil said: “I’m being very easy on Midday.

“She’s three gallops away from being absolutely there. She’ll be retired at the end of the year ... I’d say she’s as good now, if not better than she has ever been. Twice Over worked beautifully and I’d have thought he’d run very well.

A third major Ascot hope for the 10-time champion trainer is Vita Nova, who remains on course for the Qipco British Champions Fillies’ And Mares’ Stakes after being narrowly beaten in the Yorkshire Oaks.

“She’s late maturing and has thrived since her last run, she’s better now, and will be a lovely mare next year,” said Cecil.

Meanwhile James Bethell would rather Glorious Goodwood winner Arlequin did not have to carry top weight in today’s Betfred Cambridgeshire, the first leg of the Autumn Double.

“It’s a tall ask,” said the North Yorkshire trainer. “He’s very well and he doesn’t owe us anything this year.”

Elsewhere, Best Terms is reported to be in peak condition as she bids to uphold her unbeaten record in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

The Richard Hannon-trained filly looks in good order to add a success at the top level to her pair of two Group Two wins in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and Lowther Stakes at York.

“We did not expect her to win so easily at York, but she could not have been more impressive,” said Hannon.

“Who knows whether she will stay a mile next year, but if she could finish off winning a Group One that would leave us with the winter to dream.”

Hanagan ready for new turf

AS the Flat season approaches its denouement, who will be the Cock o’ the North – the accolade presented by the Yorkshire Post and Racing For Change to the region’s most successful rider?

Here are the latest standings as Paul Hanagan bids to retain the cap that will be presented to the successful rider when the 2011 concludes at Doncaster in early November.

The Malton rider has maintained his advantage over Thirsk-based Silvestre de Sousa, despite the latter’s midweek treble at Beverley. However Hanagan’s week was overshadowed by the retirement of Wootton Bassett, the horse that carried him to Group One honours last year.

Jockey Wins

Paul Hanagan 133

Silvestre De Sousa118

Philip Makin 65

Tom Eaves 63

David Allen 48

Frederik Tylicki 48

PJ McDonald 47

Graham Gibbons 43

Daniel Tudhope 39

James Sullivan 38

Figures do not include last night’s results.