SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2012 732-747-8060 $ TDN Home Page Click Here EARLY CELEBRATIONS FEATURE PRESENTATION • G1 CHAMPION S. In the absence of Frankel, Excelebration (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) has been nigh on unbeatable, and he maintained his grip on the mantle of the second-best miler around when winning August's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, and again with another supreme performance in yesterday=s G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot. Settled behind Elusive Kate (Elusive Quality) as that sole distaffer in the AN IMMACULATE ENDING field set the tempo, the He faced real adversity for the first time in his glory- 10-11 favorite was short strewn career yesterday, but Khalid Abdullah=s greatest of room along the rail gift to racing Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) duly overcame when the quarter-mile Excelebration Racing Post unfavorable testing ground and a blown start to sign off marker loomed large, but victorious in yesterday=s G1 QIPCO Champion S. at settled the contest in a matter of strides once in the Ascot. He had long been targeted at the ,1.3-million clear approaching the final eighth to easily dismiss race that Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk) by daylight. AHe=s been working could almost brilliantly at home, and [jockey] Joseph [O=Brien] had a have been lot of confidence going into the race,@ explained trainer Aidan O Brien. He has an awful lot of speed and an revamped = A awful lot of class. He=s really progressing, and the [GI] with him in Breeders= Cup Mile [Nov. 3] is a possibility if he=s okay mind, and and everybody=s happy.@ Rider Joseph O=Brien added, the sell-out AHe=s improving with racing and with age, and he=s an audience exceptional horse. Ground makes no difference to him. and millions He has a lot of pace and gets a mile on his ear. I=ve glued to TV probably sacrificed him a couple of times against Frankel best Cirrus des Aigles sets and the Frankel, trying to get up and race him four [furlongs] Racing Post internet out, but my horse loves being ridden for speed, and around the world were made to wait until late morning we=ve learnt that throughout the year.@ Cont. p7 for him to be confirmed a definite runner after persistent rain in the week had turned the Berkshire turf to heavy in places. Memories of his blitz on Newmarket=s slick surface in last year=s 2000 Guineas led the mind to wonder if he could cope with a slog in these conditions, and the usual flood of cash was stemmed slightly to produce a starting price of 2-11. Languid in the preliminaries and asleep in the gates, the homebred was able to flaunt his unnatural talent by handing the world-class Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) a two-length headstart into the straight before picking him up as if still on the Newmarket gallops. At the line, the margin was 1 3/4 lengths, and there was a suggestion that he could have been idling in front. Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third. Khalid Abdullah announced his immediate retirement, simply stating, AThat is the end,@ and it was left to Sir Henry Cecil to pay the ultimate tribute. AHe is the best I=ve ever had and the best I=ve ever seen,@ he said. AI=d be surprised if there has ever been better.@ Cont. p3 In This Issue It’s Tricky Injured, Retired 60 Broad St., Suite 100 Red Bank, NJ 07701 Godolphin Racing’s multiple Grade I winner It’s (732) 747-8060 Tricky (Mineshaft--Catboat, by Tale of the Cat), (732) 747-8955 (fax) who was expected to start in the GI Breeders’ Cup www.thoroughbreddailynews.com F/M Sprint, has been retired after sustaining an www.thetdn.com injury. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin announced yesterday that the 4-year-old filly exited a bullet five Barry Weisbord, co-publisher furlong work in 1:00 flat at Belmont Thursday with @barryweisbord a condylar fracture to her right hind ankle. “She [email protected]• Sue Finley, co-publisher worked well and the next morning when we went It’s Tricky to look at her, she had heat and inflammation in her [email protected] • @suefinley Adam Mooshian Photo right hind ankle,” McLaughlin explained. Editorial [email protected] Coverage begins page 14 Jessica Martini, Editor-in-Chief Alan Carasso, Managing Editor Marie Kizenko, Senior Editor Christina Bossinakis, Senior Editor Wise Dan Tops BC Workers Lucas Marquardt, Features Editor Steve Sherack, Racing Editor A day filled with runners preparing for the Breeders’ Brian DiDonato, Racing Analyst/Soc. Media Dir. Cup in two weeks’ time was topped by Morton Fink’s Justina Severni, Assistant Editor homebred Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry). The leading Kelsey Riley, Assistant Editor contender for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile tuned up at Keeneland. Advertising Coverage begins page 14 [email protected] Coady Photography Alycia Borer, Director of Advertising Lia Kusch, Senior Advertising Designer Sarah K. Andrew, Adv Assistant/Distribution Amanda Crelin, Advertising Assistant Amanda Foster, Advertising Assistant Customer Service [email protected] Vicki Forbes, Director of Customer Service EST Race 8:30a Prix de Conde-G3, LCP Information Technology 8:40a Preis der Winterkonigin-G3, BDN Robert Williams, Director of IT 9:15a Premio Dormello-G3, SSI [email protected] 9:40a Prix de Conseil de Paris-G2, LCP Gregg Casillo, DB Administrator, Programming 9:50a Premio del Piazzale-G3, SSI [email protected] 10:20a Hubertus-Liebrecht-Gedachtnispreis-G3, BDN 11:00a Gran Premio del Jockey Club Italiano-G1, SSI Business Development Gary King, Director of Business Development 12:10p Premio Omenoni-G3, SSI [email protected] TDN Newmarket Bureau: Cafe Racing [email protected] Sean Cronin Tom Frary TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 10/21/12 • PAGE 3 of 16 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Saturday, Ascot, Britain Highly regarded by Juddmonte=s leading figures from QIPCO CHAMPION S.-G1, ,1,300,000, Ascot, 10-20, his earliest beginnings, Frankel reportedly proved a 3yo/up, 1 1/4mT, 2:10.22, sf. handful during the formative part of his training at 1--FRANKEL (GB), 129, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire) Warren Place, and there was still a clear sign of the 1st Dam: Kind (Ire), by Danehill tearaway in his incredible performance in the G2 Royal 2nd Dam: Rainbow Lake (GB), by Rainbow Quest Lodge S. here two years ago. While keeping his 3rd Dam: Rockfest, by Stage Door Johnny exuberance intact, the creative genius of Sir Henry O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms; T-Sir Henry Cecil and the guiding hands of work-rider Shane Cecil; J-Tom Queally; ,737,230. Lifetime Record: Fetherstonhaugh--who had steered the brilliant Horse of the Year-Eur, Co-Ch. 2yo Colt-Eur, Ch. Motivator (GB) on the Newmarket slopes years before-- 3yo Colt-Eur, Co.-Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eng, Hwt. 3yo gradually chiseled away at the potentially destructive Colt-Eng at 7-9.5f, 14-14-0-0, ,2,998,302. *3/4 to elements of his nature. Bullet Train (GB) (Sadler's Wells), GSW-Eng, Things had started to take shape before the Guineas $149,519; full to Noble Mission (GB), GSW-Eng, $174,728. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. and St James=s Palace S. last summer, but whereas the Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. former performance was the stuff of legend, his display at the Royal meeting here was marked by an almost Congrats to Juddmonte Farms! Raised on Feed careless abandon, and it was not until the Sussex and 2--Cirrus des Aigles (Fr), 129, g, 6, Even Top (Ire)-- QEII that Frankel had learned to express his unequaled Taille de Guepe (Fr), by Septieme Ciel. talent in a more even manner. O-Jean-Claude-Alain Dupouy & Xavier Niel; B-Yvon With further artistry employed during the winter spell, Lelimouzin & Benoit Deschamps; T-Corine he re-entered the scene a calmer proposition and, Barande-Barbe; ,279,500. despite remaining totally compelling with his winning 3--Nathaniel (Ire), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)--Magnificient Style, by Silver Hawk. O-Lady Rothschild & efforts over a mile, he had begun to look like the Newsells Park Stud; B-Kincorth Investments Inc; middle-distance runner his pedigree had always T-John Gosden; ,139,880. suggested he would be. Margins: 1 3/4, 2HF, 3HF. Odds: 2-11, 9-2, 9-1. York=s Juddmonte International was his first try at Also Ran: Pastorius (Ger), Master of Hounds, Bullet farther, but was staged on a good-to-firm surface that Train (GB). Click for the Racing Post chart, the has been a rarity in Europe this year, and therefore brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style failed to provide a true test of his mettle. pedigree. Video, courtesy attheraces.com. Cont. p4 TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 10/21/12 • PAGE 4 of 16 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Champion S. cont. As the clouds broke over Ascot in the build-up to this finale, the tension rose in parallel, and a final bout of showers on Thursday into Friday created a crucible in which his champion status would be challenged most acutely. Months of nurture and expert horsemanship saw him enter the buzzy parade ring with nonchalance, and that casual air saw him surrender a normally crucial margin of three lengths out of the stalls. Ian Mongan on Bullet Train (GB) (Sadler=s Wells) dropped anchor in front to allow Tom Queally to ease into the pack, which forced Olivier Peslier, on Cirrus des Aigles, to take up the running after 1 1/2 furlongs, with Frankel coasting along in fourth.