TOM QUEALLY knows potential Flat superstar Frankel still has plenty to prove ahead of tomorrow’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Henry Cecil’s unbeaten colt is the odds-on favourite for the first Classic of the campaign and the racing world is hoping he can live up to all the big-race talk and secure victory.
As a grandson to the recently deceased Sadler’s Wells he would be a timely winner. While Cecil is looking for his first win in the race since Wollow in 1976.
Trainer and jockey landed numerous Group Ones last year with the likes of Twice Over, but Queally is still searching for his first British Classic success. And although his short odds make Frankel appear virtually assured of success, Queally is making sure he takes nothing for granted at Headquarters tomorrow.
He said: “I don’t really do pressure as every ride is important to me whatever the occasion, but with expectations of Frankel riding so high, I will be going through Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas with even more care than usual.
“Don’t get me wrong, I have no doubts whatsoever about Frankel’s abilities, it’s just that it takes so much hard work to get a horse ready to run in a Classic, let alone to go and win it.
“Care and attention to detail is needed every step of the way and being over confident is never a good idea as everyone knows there’s no such thing as a racing certainty.
“Unbeaten in five races, he goes into the race the shortest-priced Guineas favourite for over 30 years, but he still has plenty to prove.
“There’s a lot of talent in the race and he will be racing on ground faster than he’s ever run on before, but there are also plenty of positives, not the least of which is that he has won over the course and will have the benefit of a pacemaker in Rerouted.
“He wasn’t fully tuned up when he won at Newbury a couple of weeks ago, but the race has brought him on and he is a much better horse now than he was then.
“He did his last piece of work on Tuesday and will be spot-on (for) Saturday.
“He has an extraordinary long stride and, if we get a sensible pace, I hope I’ll be celebrating my first English Classic winner.”
Frankel will face 12 rivals in tomorrow’s Classic and Cecil expects the Galileo colt to be even better than when cruising to a four-length success in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on his seasonal appearance last month.
Cecil said: “Frankel is very well, he did his final piece of work on Tuesday morning and I was delighted. He was lovely and relaxed in behind his lead horse and I’d be very surprised if he’s not a better horse than at Newbury.
“He has come on a lot for his run. I was really pleased how he behaved there as he was fresh going into it.
“He hadn’t been on the grass since last year as it has been so dry so I was thrilled he was so well behaved.”
Richard Hannon jnr, assistant trainer to his father, thinks Frankel is virtually assured of success and his rivals, including the stable’s outsider Dubawi Gold, are just playing for places.
Hannon said: “We’re all fighting it out for the places by the looks of things but he’s (Dubawi Gold) a horse who’s done nothing wrong this year.
“He’s improved all the time and he’s settling much better now. We didn’t originally think he was going to get a mile because he didn’t settle.
“I think Frankel just has to turn up to win. He’s looked extremely good so far and, as Henry Cecil said, he’s been trained for the Guineas and not the Greenham.
“I don’t see anything there to beat him and I don’t see anything there to race him to be honest.”
Meanwhile Liverpool jockey Martin Dwyer will partner another outsider the Brian Meehan-trained Happy Today, who was second in the Fielden Stakes last month.
Meehan said: “(He) fully deserves to take his chance and looks much better than a 66-1 shot after his valiant effort in the Fielden Stakes over the course two weeks ago. He has come on a lot for the run and is working well. Whatever his fate here, he should enjoy success for the rest of the year.”
TODAY’S NAP: Hong Kong Island (4.25pm Leicester).
