Fantastic Frankel makes it an impeccable 10 wins out of 10

Dubai: Superstar Frankel showed again what a great champion he is by delivering another imperious performance to win the JLT Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury racecourse yesterday.

Sir Henry Cecil's colt made it a perfect ten with his tenth win from as many career starts, finishing five lengths clear of Irish raider Excelebration to record his sixth Group One success.

What made his performance all the more remarkable was the fact that he had just recovered from an injury suffered last month.

Named after the late American trainer Bobby Frankel by his owner Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the Galileo colt is now primed for a golden summer in Britain where he will compete in the highest quality races at Ascot, Newmarket and York.

Jockey Tom Queally, who has ridden the horses in all his ten famous victories since he won his maiden at Newmarket in August 2010 was struggling to find the words to describe Frankel's stunning season debut.

Queally said: "It's a great relief he's come back. It's great to be on board.

Stronger performer

"He's grown up from last year, he's thicker set. If you look at him now, he's the real deal — he's filled out since last year. He showed that burst of acceleration. I am sure I won't ever ride a horse like this again."

Cecil, wearing his trademark royal blue shirt, paid tribute to his stable staff for nursing Frankel back to fitness following the injury scare. "Very nice, wasn't it?," he told Racing UK. "I've got to thank his work rider and all those involved as it hasn't been straightforward. Ten days off is not easy for a horse when you are preparing him for such a challenge.

"We always take a little bit of a hold with him first up. His first race is never his best but he's done everything right. I'm delighted not just for myself but for the whole team including Prince Abdullah [the owner]," he said.

Unmatchable speed

Cecil added: "As for his next race well he's entered in two at Royal Ascot [next month] but we'll see."

Excelebration, a Group One winner when trained by Marco Botti, kept a close watch on Frankel, but couldn't match the acceleration that the son of Galileo displayed when off the bridle, as he stretched out to cross the line clear of the chasing pack.

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