When
Sir Henry Cecil saddles Frankel at Ascot ahead of the QIPCO Champion Stakes on
Saturday (October 20), the poignancy of the moment will be far from lost on
him.
While
racing has celebrated the superstar colt for the past three seasons, his
trainer has lived and breathed every step Frankel has taken along the way.
Cecil
has masterminded the four-year-old's glittering career - and done so, in recent
times, while undergoing extensive treatment for cancer. And just as the master
of Warren Place has been there for Frankel, so the horse - owned by staunch
Cecil supporter Khalid Abdulla - has been there for him.
Cecil
said: "I am so lucky to have been allocated Frankel to train. He has been
an inspiration and challenge, which I really needed so badly.
"Through
my illness, I feel that the help from my wife Jane and the determination to be
there for Frankel has helped me so much to get through the season."
Cecil
is conscious to point out that the Frankel success story is far from being down
to one man. It has been an outstanding team effort with one largely unsung
hero, in particular - Frankel's day-to-day exercise rider Shane
Fetherstonhaugh.
He
said: "What Frankel has achieved during the past year is outstanding but I
would not like to take all the praise. There are a lot of people at Warren
Place who have all played their part with Frankel and I really appreciate
everyone's efforts - not least Shane Fetherstonhaugh's.
"This
season, Shane has ridden Frankel entirely at home. I've managed his training
schedule and preparation, but Shane has carried out the orders to perfection.
So, perhaps, it could be said that we - Shane and I - have trained Frankel
together!"
With 13
victories from 13 starts, Frankel has one more challenge to overcome and ensure
that he takes his 100 per cent record into probable retirement.
This
weekend at Ascot he will tackle the QIPCO Champion Stakes on QIPCO British
Champions Day. Cecil couldn't be happier with his charge, who came through his
last pre-race gallop on Tuesday in fine fettle.
Cecil
said: "I was very pleased with Frankel's final piece of work. He gives the
impression that he is better than ever and still improving.
"I
could not be happier with him. He seems full of himself and, considering the
time of year, he is really good and healthy in his coat. He eats everything put
in front of him."
The one
big unknown for Frankel is very testing underfoot conditions. The Galileo colt
won on soft going on his debut at Newmarket in 2010 but has yet to be
campaigned in bottomless ground.
He
assessed: "I am pretty confident he will be fine in soft ground, but if
it's heavy we are in no-man's land. He has never encountered it and, with his
action and turn of foot, I cannot be sure that he would appreciate it. "
Cecil
is full of respect for Frankel's key rivals - last year's QIPCO Champion Stakes
winner Cirrus des Aigles and 2011 King George hero Nathaniel.
He
said: "It will be a far from easy race (for Frankel) with Cirrus Des
Aigles and Nathaniel in the line-up. They are two good horses who will go in
the ground and get the trip really well. They have to be really
respected."
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