Other meanings of Frankel (horse)
Thoroughbred racing
Frankel (foaled 11 February 2008) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse who retired undefeated after a career that spanned 2008–2012. Trained by Sir Henry Cecil and ridden by Tom Queally, he won all 14 of his starts, including ten Group 1 races, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
Frankel was a bay colt bred by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, sired by the unbeaten miler Galileo and out of the Danehill mare Kind, making him a half-brother to the multiple Group 1 winner Noble Mission. He was trained at Warren Place in Newmarket by Sir Henry Cecil, who had previously trained the great miler and sire Kris. Frankel was named after the late American trainer Bobby Frankel, who had trained for Juddmonte.
He made his racecourse debut in a maiden at Newmarket in August 2010, winning by half a length, and followed with a victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot. His early promise was evident, but few anticipated the dominance that followed.1
Frankel's three-year-old season began with a stunning display in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, where he beat the subsequent Derby winner Camelot by six lengths, setting a race record. He then took the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, all at Group 1 level, cementing his status as the world's best miler.
His only scare came in the Sussex Stakes, where he was challenged by the older horse Canford Cliffs, but he prevailed by two lengths. His Timeform rating of 137 for the season was the highest for a three-year-old since the 1970s.2
As a four-year-old, Frankel extended his unbeaten record to 14 with victories in the Lockinge Stakes, Prince of Wales's Stakes, Sussex Stakes (for a second time), International Stakes at York, and the Champion Stakes at Ascot. His final race, the Champion Stakes, saw him stretch to ten furlongs for the first time, winning by 1¾ lengths.
He retired with a Timeform rating of 147, the highest ever awarded, surpassing the previous record of 145 held by Sea-Bird and Brigadier Gerard. He was named Cartier Horse of the Year in 2011 and 2012.3
Frankel stood at stud at Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, with an initial stud fee of £125,000. His first crop of foals arrived in 2016, and he quickly established himself as a leading sire, with his progeny including the Group 1 winners Adayar (Derby), Hurricane Lane (St Leger), and Palace Pier (multiple Group 1s).
His influence has been compared to that of his sire Galileo, and he has been champion sire in Britain and Ireland. His daughters have also shown promise as broodmares. Frankel's legacy is secure as one of the most influential sires of the modern era.4
Frankel's name was chosen in honour of the American trainer Bobby Frankel, who had died in 2009. He was originally entered in the Derby, but connections opted for the Guineas route, avoiding the stamina test of Epsom. His regular jockey Tom Queally was not the first choice; in his early career, he was ridden by Richard Hughes, who was replaced after a disagreement.
Frankel's dam, Kind, was a half-sister to the champion sprinter and sire Danehill Dancer. He was known for his fiery temperament, often sweating before races, and he wore a hood in the parade ring. His final race was watched by a record television audience for a British horse race, and his retirement was announced immediately after.
Frankel's unbeaten record and exceptional ratings have made him a benchmark for modern racehorses.
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