Frankel They Said It

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FRANKEL THEY SAID IT

OCTOBER 20, 2012

"If you watched the race before (the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II won by Excelebration, who had finished behind Frankel five times) it tells you what kind of class he is. Then to beat Cirrus Des Aigles and Nathaniel at their optimum distance (in the Group 1 Champion Stakes) was a star performance."

—Grimthorpe on how Champions Day burnished Frankel's legacy

"Henry's re-emergence as a trainer is not just one of the greatest stories in sport but one of the all-time great stories generally. He's has come back from the Conference to the Champions' League and Henry is a master of his profession. He is very determined and his handling of this horse is masterly. He was determined to do the right thing by the horse and taught him to settle, which you saw today."

—Grimthorpe on Frankel as a testament to his trainer, Sir Henry Cecil

"We must also mention Thomas P. Queally. They have grown into one of the great sporting partnerships."

—Grimthorpe gives a tip of the cap to regular rider Tom Queally

"I'm really proud of Frankel and we have been on an amazing journey. He was slowly away at York (in the Group 1 Juddmonte International) and he was a little bit slower today, but I have so much belief in the horse, and I suppose that we have pushed that to the limit in the past, but he is amazing. We lost a length at the start, but a length is nothing to him."

—Queally on Frankel's slow start on Saturday

"It's fair to say that he is better on better ground, but the 4x4 kicked in, and he is everything that you could imagine in a horse. He didn't really enjoy the ground -- he didn't bounce off it like he can do -- but that shows you what sort of horse we are dealing with. Under the circumstances I would say it's up there with his best performances."

—Queally on Frankel's overcoming the testing ground

"I must be the only jockey to ever have punched the air when I crossed the line in sixth."

—Ian Mongan, the rider of Frankel's pacemaker Bullet Train, who had to make a few tactical readjustments

"Frankel is the biggest chapter in my life and it's great that it has happened. Sir Henry has had some great jockeys, and for me to be there at that time when the horse of a lifetime comes along is just amazing. I could stand here and talk all night about what he means to me, and I am very proud to be associated with him."

—Queally on what Frankel has meant to him

"I can think of harder things than being Frankel's jockey on the grand scale of things. There is pressure, but there is pressure in all walks of life, and I would gladly take it all on board. The chances of me being the guy on board, or even the chances of a horse like him coming along."

—Queally on the pressure of partnering Frankel

"He went very well with two furlongs to go. I thought we have a chance, we have to make him (Frankel) fight. Cirrus des Aigles fought very well."

—jockey Olivier Peslier on his view aboard Cirrus des Aigles

"I am thrilled with the result. I think that is what we all wanted. I love the way Frankel came in, but he had to race in the end. In the last half furlong, he was having a race. What a great horse."

—trainer John Gosden, whose Nathaniel finished third

"Nathaniel has done everything, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, fast ground, soft ground. He's run a great race and has had a great season. He's just always run great races. He's a very genuine, proper racehorse. He is now off to stud at Newsells Park."

—Gosden on Nathaniel, who was running his last race

"I've never seen anything like it, and I probably won't for a long time. To have such a beautiful creature in our sport is fantastic."

—jockey Frankie Dettori, who guided fourth-placer Pastorius, on the Frankel phenomenon

"One word describes him -- incredible. He's the most incredible horse we have ever seen. He's just unbelievable."

—trainer Aidan O'Brien, who didn't try to take on Frankel in the Champion

"Every sport needs a jaw-dropper. The kind of athlete who makes you stop and stare. Frankel is racing's Usain Bolt. He makes it look so easy, it's almost ridiculous. I feel privileged to have seen him race and I have certainly never seen a better horse in my lifetime."

—BBC Presenter Clare Balding, who was an infant when her father Ian trained the legendary Mill Reef

"Frankel has cost us about £5 million over the course of his career, which averages out at around £360,000 per run. But it's been money very well spent as he has increased the profile of the Sport of Kings immeasurably and hopefully attracted many new fans to our amazing game."

—Bookmaker Paddy Power on Frankel's impact on their balance sheet

"We roared him home with all the punters. It scarcely matters a jot that he's emptied our satchels once again. He's the best thing we've had to promote our sport to a whole new audience and we're so grateful for that. Frankel will be remembered fondly by the bookies."

—David Williams of Ladbrokes cheered Frankel despite the firm's monetary losses

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