Sport : Horse Racing

O'SULLEVAN SUCCUMBS TO FRANKEL FEVER

20th May 2012, 01:16pm

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Sir Peter O'Sullevan: Thankful for Frankel

Sir Peter O'Sullevan: Thankful for Frankel

Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the BBC's revered retired racing commentator, described Frankel as a "joy to behold" after the wonder-colt notched up a perfect 10 of victories.

The four-year-old, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, took his winning tally into double figures when blowing away the opposition in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The 'voice of racing' was suitably impressed by yet another scintillating display by the world's highest-rated racehorse.

"It was utterly brilliant and an amazing credit to his team," said O'Sullevan.

"I thought it was very characteristic that Sir Henry should deflect attention from himself in the first post-race interview and pay credit to his team for doing a wonderful job.

"Frankel is absolutely breathtaking and a joy to behold.

"I think it's amazing credit to the Cecil team for the way he has settled down and the way he has come of a personage.

"He is a serious personality and the attention his unique talent has attracted.

"He appeals enormously as a personality.

"I'm very bad at ranking horses. I'm just so much in relishing the stars, rather than trying to compare them.

"Frankel is a phenomenon to relish and to be thankful for."Senior jockey Michael Hills admits he has never seen any horse quite like Frankel in his long and successful career in the saddle.

"He's the best horse I've ever seen. I loved Sea The Stars, but he only won by a length," he told At The Races.

"It would have been interesting if they ever met, but this fella just goes out and does it with that mechanical action of his.

"I think he will come on. He did after the Greenham last year and he's had a 10-day setback this year, so I'm sure he will come on."

Racehorse owner Andrew Tinkler, whose Dubawi Gold was third to Frankel in the Lockinge does not believe there is a rival capable of threatening to topple this super colt. "I've not seen a horse move like he does," he said.

"He's more professional, he's chilled out now and he's got to go on to better things, I'm sure.

"Who is going to challenge him one day? There's no horse I've seen. They talk of Black Caviar, but she'll have her work cut out against him."

Top female jockey Hayley Turner felt her colleagues Tom Queally on Frankel and Ian Mongan aboard his pacemaker Bullet Train did magnificent jobs in the Newbury race.

"Tom has done really well because there was a lot of pressure on him and he was really cool about it," she said.

"I think Ian Mongan did a brilliant job. He set a perfect pace on Bullet Train and I think the whole team have done fantastic."

Newmarket trainer Roger Varian describes Frankel as a "natural".

"He's a phenomenon. He looked to have the race in the bag almost at halfway," he said.

"He was always travelling so well and he just seems to quicken naturally and burns them off well before the last furlong.

"To look at that horse he's 100% natural. Take nothing away from Sir Henry who is a brilliant trainer, but you can't train that ability into a horse. It's just natural ability that we may never see again."

Queally was understandably delighted with the performance and said Frankel felt as good as ever.

"It was a great thrill and he's an amazing horse. It's great for everyone he's still around and in training as a four-year-old," the jockey told www.williamhill.com.

"After his setback it was great he made the Lockinge and what a performance he put on. It was out of this world.

"He sprinted away from the back and beat Excelebration. That's the furthest he's beaten him now so the handicapper may put him up even higher in the ratings.

"He's an absolute star. He gave me as good a feel as ever. He's strengthened up and developed from three to four. It's a thrill to ride him."

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