Wonder horse Frankel takes centre stage 
on Knavesmire

Sir Henry Cecil’s incredible colt will step onto the famous Knavesmire turf unbeaten in 12 starts and officially the highest rated racehorse in the world.

Frankel is set to be joined by his regular pacemaker and three-parts brother Bullet Train, as well as his stablemate Twice Over, who won this prestigious Group One prize 12 months ago when beating Midday in a thrilling finish.

Both Frankel and Twice Over are owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, the man behind the Juddmonte breeding operation which remains the long-term sponsor of York’s richest race.

Frankel’s main danger, if there is such a thing, is surely the Aidan O’Brien-trained St Nicholas 
Abbey.

A dual winner of the Coronation Cup at Epsom and a four-time Group One scorer in all, the five-year-old got going all too late when only third in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

A Breeders’ Cup winner, he is likely to be joined by a fellow Ballydoyle inmate or two in order to ensure there is a strong pace. Robin Hood and Windsor Palace are regulars in such a role.

Godolphin’s Farhh chased home Frankel in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and is set to reoppose, but given the ease with which he was brushed aside, it would be a big surprise if he could reverse the placings.

Nathaniel has won the Eclipse and been second in the King George this year, so he would be an obvious threat if he does line up.

Both trainer John Gosden and jockey William Buick have spoken of a desire to take on Frankel – the future superstar only just got the better of Nathaniel when the two clashed at Newmarket two years ago on their racecourse debuts.

However there will have to be a further softening of the ground for this to happen, with the course still on the fast side despite Wednesday evening’s downpour.

James Wigan, racing manager to Nathaniel’s owner Lady Rothschild, said: “I would think it’s unlikely we will run Nathaniel at York, certainly less than 50-50. I would say that on fast ground I couldn’t see us beating Frankel. It would take a lot of rain to make us change our plan. We won’t run him on fast ground.”

Planteur and Sri Putra complete the list of confirmations.

Cecil’s duo Thomas Chippendale and Noble Mission feature among 11 confirmations for the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes – a key St Leger trial – on Wednesday.

The stable companions fought out a thrilling finish to the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Thomas Chippendale winning the argument by half-a-length.

But he will have to concede weight to each of his opponents on Knavesmire and Noble Mission has since gone on to success at Glorious Goodwood.

Beaten just a nose by Noble Mission in the Gordon Stakes was Godolphin’s Encke and he is set to re-oppose.

Sheikh Mohammed’s operation are likely to be double-handed after Energizer was supplemented, as anticipated. The aforementioned Gosden also has a strong hand with Shantaram and Thought Worthy in the mix, while O’Brien has three potential challengers in Chicago, David Livingston and Father Of Science.

Princess Highway has a choice of Group One engagements in her quest to win at the highest level after being found out by soft ground in the Darley Irish Oaks.

The Dermot Weld-trained filly could not quite get to grips with the conditions when third behind Great Heavens in the Curragh Classic last month.

She had earlier trounced subsequent Nassau Stakes winner The Fugue by six lengths in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Connections will look at the Darley Yorkshire Oaks next Thursday and the 10-furlong Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 8 for the daughter of Street Cry.

Triple Crown aspirant Camelot enjoyed a gallop before racing at Leopardstown ahead of his date with destiny in next month’s Ladbrokes St Leger.

The three-year-old has already landed the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Investec Derby at Epsom, and next month aims to become the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to complete the Classic treble at Doncaster.

Last seen winning the Irish Derby at the Curragh in late June, the son of Montjeu has enjoyed a mid-season break, but his Leger preparations stepped up a gear as he worked alongside stable companions Fame And Glory and Chamonix.

The trio circled the paddock a number of times before working over a mile-and-a-half. Chamonix sent off in front, with Fame And Glory about a length-and-a-half off him and Camelot a further three lengths back.

Chamonix (Dean Gallagher) was driven four furlongs out, with Fame And Glory (Seamie Heffernan) and Camelot going past approaching the straight. Camelot eased to the front a furlong out and soon went nicely clear under Joseph O’Brien, having worked with older horses for the first time.

O’Brien senior said: “They went a nice solid bit of work, it was an even building pace.

“You’d have to be very happy with him (Camelot). He’s done very well physically, he’s made like a miler and you can see that he has a bit of a tummy on him. It’s a long time from the Curragh to Doncaster so he needed to go somewhere and it was easier to come here than to go to somewhere like York.

“Fame And Glory is going for the Irish Leger.”