No step up in trip yet for unbeaten Frankel

The Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 19 is the probable target for owner Khalid Abdullah’s superstar, who took his unbeaten record to 10 in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday – just five weeks after suffering a setback.

The world’s highest-rated thoroughbred is also in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes over 10 furlongs a day later.

Connections of the Sir Henry Cecil-trained four-year-old may instead wait until later in the summer to give Frankel his first test over a mile-and-a-quarter, with races like the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and the Juddmonte International at York obvious options.

“It was very pleasing the way he did it at Newbury,” the owner’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said yesterday.

“Obviously we were a bit apprehensive after the injury scare, but he’s done it really nicely so we’re delighted.

“I’ve spoken to Sir Henry this morning and the horse is fine and very pleased with himself. All being well, it will be Ascot next.

“I would think the Queen Anne would be the most likely race.”

Sir Peter O’Sullevan, the BBC’s revered retired racing commentator, described Frankel as a “joy to behold” after the wonder-colt notched up his 10th straight win.

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. Frankel is a phenomenon to relish and to be thankful for.”

n Fame And Glory teed himself up for his defence of the Ascot Gold Cup with a win in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.

Joseph O’Brien stepped in for the suspended Jamie Spencer and while only holding off Unaccompanied by a neck, Fame And Glory was not asked for every effort.