Updated on
Summary Frankel will also be running over 1 1/4 miles for only the second time.
Frankel will seek to rubberstamp his standing as the the worlds greatest ever racehorse in the appropriately named Champion Stakes here on Champions Day on Saturday.However, to win his 14th race in 14 starts, in what is widely expected to be his final bow, the four-year-old colt - named after the late Bobby Frankel a former trainer of the horses owner Prince Khalid Abdullah - faces his greatest test.While he has just four serious rivals - his older brother Bullet Train will fulfil his usual role as pacemaker - they include last years winner Cirrus des Aigles and Nathaniel, who to date has got the closest of all Frankels rivals beaten half a length on the champions debut two years ago.Frankel, who will be bidding for his 10th Group One success, will also be running over 1 1/4 miles for only the second time and also on his least favoured soft ground, all combining to give his rivals some reason to be optimistic.However, his legendary trainer Henry Cecil, who says he is the best horse he has ever seen, says soft should not be a problem although if it deteriorated to heavy then alarm bells will start ringing.Im pretty confident he will be fine in soft ground but if its heavy, we are in no mans land, said 69-year-old Cecil, who has been sustained by Frankels exploits while undergoing treatment for throat cancer.He has never encountered it and with his action and turn of foot, I cannot be sure he would appreciate it.However, Cecil, who has experienced some of his greatest moments at Ascot including a record 70 winners at the Royal meeting, said Frankel was in prime form for his task.I could not be happier with him. He seems full of himself.Prince Khaleds racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe acknowledges that with German Derby winner Pastorius also in the field Frankel - who in 10 of his wins has won by a minimum of four lengths - faces his greatest challenge.Certainly this is his toughest test, said Grimthorpe.Its building up to be a really true test for him. I think its exciting.Ive always come into this with the attitude that we have to enjoy him. The horse has done everything that we could possibly have dreamt about and I hope hell run a huge race on Saturday.Cirrus des Aigles couldnt be more of a contrast to Frankel, unfashionably bred and a bit of a freak really as the six-year-old French gelding has defied logic and collected three Group One prizes in the past year.His plucky trainer Corine Barande-Barbe, who has far less firepower in terms of financial backers and horses compared to Cecil, is relishing the enormmous challenge facing her stable star.This is a great challenge, and whatever the result it will be a great experience, Barande-Barbe said.Its the opportunity to meet the best ever horse in England, and well go to him, because he didnt come to usHis astonishing nine length win in the Group Two Prix Dollar at Longchamp a fornight ago was a welcome bright spot in a trying season for the 54-year-old trainer, who had had him off the track for five months owing to injury and the blow of him testing positive for an unspecified banned substance.Soft going is good, said Barande-Barbe.He doesnt mind heavy ground - he swims.Sometimes it disturbs horses but nobody knows if it disturbs Frankel.I dont think he has raced on very soft but I think hes a bit like Cirrus - every time he tries new conditions it makes him better.Apart from not being unbeaten, I think they are a bit the same.Frankel is understandably the main attraction but the rest of the card is strong and the other Group One race the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - which he won last year - will feature a horse that came off second best no less than four times to him.However, Excelebration - who never got nearer than four lengths to Frankel and the last time they met lost by 11 lengths - should improve on his second spot last year and pick up his second successive Group One win.Ironically in winning it will only go to support those that believe Frankel is the greatest ever.
