Frankel fails to scare off rivals

Saturday 16 June 2012

Frankel will face 10 rivals when he puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Queen Anne Stakes in the opening race of Royal Ascot 2012 on Tuesday.

Sir Henry Cecil's colt has produced some stunning performances during his 10-race career to date and was ominously perhaps most impressive on his four-year-old debut in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Given he had suffered an early-season setback which threatened to end his career for a short time, he can be expected to have improved significantly for his latest mission and will be long odds-on to come out on top once again.

Cecil and owner Khalid Abdullah are also represented by Frankel's three-parts brother and likely pacemaker Bullet Train.

Perhaps Frankel's biggest threat is Aidan O'Brien's Excelebration, but the Lockinge runner-up has yet to seriously trouble the world's highest-rated racehorse in four previous encounters.

O'Brien also runs a pacemaker in Windsor Palace.

Strong Suit is an interesting contender for champion trainer Richard Hannon, making his first appearance of the season following some encouraging gallop reports.

Diomed Stakes winner Side Glance steps back up in class for Andrew Balding, with Premio Loco and Red Jazz other runners who will be aiming to pick up a share of some of the prize-money on offer.

Sir Mark Prescott's Worthadd, Godolphin's Helmet and German raider Indomito complete the field.