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Frankel completes Newmarket gallop

FrankelFrankel
© Photo Healy Racing

Frankel warmed up for the final race of his career with a workout at Newmarket before racing on Saturday.

Sir Henry Cecil's superstar, officially the best racehorse in the world, is due to end his glittering career in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20.

Connections decided to recreate race conditions by parading him in the paddock, while jockey Tom Queally was wearing owner Khalid Abdullah's silks.

Frankel then galloped over one mile and a furlong alongside stable companions Specific Gravity and his half-brother Bullet Train.

Frankel's popularity has reached such heights there were barely any vantage points left in the paddock before the exercise.

Once under way, Bullet Train set off at a generous pace, not much slower than they would have gone in a real race.

Specific Gravity was in behind the pacesetter, while Queally settled Frankel perfectly in behind.

Frankel then eased past Specific Gravity, who dropped away, at the half-way stage.

Soon the mighty horse was alongside his sibling before gliding clear under minimal pressure.

As Frankel went past the winning post, the big crowd assembled gave him a generous round of applause.

Tom Queally said: "He had a nice little blow and we are all delighted, it's exactly what we were looking forward. I was happy with him. The last time I'd sat on him was York and it was great to sit on him again. He worked well and seemed as good as ever which would be good enough."

Sir Henry Cecil was on hand to supervise the work and added: "I'm going fine, I read someone saying I was going to retire but the only retiring I'm going to be doing is a good holiday. Frankel had a good blow this morning but this is not D-day. I don't think running in the Moulin would have achieved anything and this was ideal and I'd think the Champion Stakes will be his last race. The Prince will make the decision but at the moment that is the idea."

Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "It's amazing how many people came to see him.

"He's done something today to keep him up to speed and he's achieved it with the minimum of fuss.

"It was slightly less than a race as they didn't go a furious gallop but they still went a decent pace and it was a bit more of a workout.

"It was kind of Newmarket to allow us to come and Frankel has enjoyed himself."

About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.