It was seven years ago when Frankel posted his joint highest RPR of 143 when decimating the Queen Anne field, scoring by eleven lengths. His second Royal Ascot success, having scored in the St. James’s Palace Stakes the previous year, he came to call the Berkshire venue his home, scoring four times there and ending his career with a dominant display in the Champion Stakes.
Whilst his progeny are yet to hit the heights expected of one of his quality and pedigree, he has already risen to twelfth in the Stallions’ list for Royal Ascot over the past decade, despite most of his rivals having a significant head start on him.
With four winners from thirty one runners, four seconds and eight thirds, his offspring are of definite interest at the meeting.
Roger Charlton’s Atty Persse gave Frankel his first winner at the Royal meeting with a ready success in the King George V Handicap in 2017.
More riches awaited in 2018, when three of his progeny scored, with Baghdad gaining back to back successes for his sire in the King George V, Monarchs Glen scoring in the Wolferton and Without Parole continuing his unbeaten run when emulating his father by winning the St. James’s Palace.
Frankel’s runners this year perhaps lack the star quality but that’s not for a lack of quantity, with fifteen entries at the time of writing. Represented in Group Ones and handicaps, over one-mile and two-miles-four, he has a raft of contenders wishing to add to his four previous winners. Here we take a look at his most likely winners from each day.
Frankel has perhaps his best chance of a winner of the week in the Wolferton Stakes in the form of the 2018 2,000 Guineas fourth Elarqam.
Mark Johnston’s four year old looked to have a bright future ahead of him after that run, however he disappointed as favourite on three occasions subsequently.
He returned from a winter break having had a wind op with a respectable fourth at Newmarket when staying on over nine furlongs, before running out a ready winner at Goodwood when stepped back up to this trip.
Evidently back to his best, he could easily fulfil his big reputation here despite having to carry a penalty for his latest victory.
Third in the Coronation Stakes last year behind the mightily impressive Alpha Centauri, Veracious looks a player at an each way price in the Duke Of Cambridge.
Michael Stoute’s filly has always threatened to develop into a high class performer, just falling short on a number of occasions. She has twice disappointed as favourite this season, but if back to her best, she’d be in with a shout.
A close up sixth in the Oaks on just her third racecourse start, Frankellina appears to have a decent chance in the Ribbesdale.
Previously beaten just a neck in the Musidora despite giving away three lengths at the start, she looks set for a big future in high class Fillies contests, whatever the outcome is at the Royal meeting.
Mark Johnston’s Baghdad stayed on strongly to win the King George V Stakes last year. A strong renewal, he had subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter back in fourth.
Off the track for ten months after scoring here last year, he finished a close up third on reappearance in a competitive Tapeta handicap before winning narrowly at Newmarket.
Vying for favouritism for this year’s Duke Of Edinburgh, it would be no surprise were he to go close despite running off a fourteen pound higher mark.
He is also entered in Saturday’s Hardwicke Stakes, although whether he is quite at that level yet is unlikely.
A typical Stoute improver, Mirage Dancer returned to the track after a failed expedition to Hong Kong with an assertive win at Goodwood.
He often saves his best for that venue, however he has twice ran well at the Royal Meeting, a close up fifth in the Wolferton last year having placed in the Hampton Court in 2017.
If taking a step forward from his reappearance and reproducing his best form at Ascot, he wouldn’t be too far away in a very competitive Hardwicke Stakes.
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