In 1946 Fred Darling of Beckhampton, England’s premier trainer (seven Derby winners to his name), had in his care Tudor Minstrel, a two-year-old well enough bred to win him another Derby.  In 1946 Tudor Minstrel was unbeaten in four races and ended the season as the highest-rated two-year old in Britain. In 1947 he won his prep race and then started 11/8 favourite for the one-mile 2,000 Guineas which he won by 8 lengths, ridden, as always, by champion jockey Gordon Richards. Experienced observers reckoned that he could have won by much further, and he was hailed as the horse of the century.

Five weeks later he started 4/6 favourite for the one-and-a-half mile Derby. His exuberant style of running in previous races caused some to doubt whether he would stay the distance, but the general feeling was that he could win “pulling a cart.” On the day, he failed to settle in the early stages (kept trying to gallop faster than his jockey wanted, thereby initiating a battle between them), exhausted himself, and finished fourth.

He won three more top-class one-mile races, but was beaten when he was again tried over a longer distance in the one-and-a-quarter mile Eclipse Stakes. He retired at the end of 1947, having proved a very good horse, but there was no further talk of “horse of the century”. His refusal to settle made the difference between “good” and “great”.

In 2010 trainer Sir Henry Cecil had in his care a two-year-old called Frankel. In the autumn of 2010 he ran and won four times, twice at one mile, twice at seven furlongs. At season’s end, he was rated top 2-year-old. The autumn start and the distances over which he ran made it clear that he was looked upon as a middle-distance prospect, and was probably expected to mature into a very useful three-year-old. Reporting on his third and fourth starts, the Racing Post noted that he “took a keen hold” (tried to gallop faster than his jockey would let him).

In 2011 Frankel won his first race, and then contested the one-mile 2000 Guineas on the 30^th April. After half a mile he shot about ten lengths clear of the field and won by eight. The Racing Post noted that he “took a keen hold” and there was every indication that the horse, rather than the jockey, was the dominant partner when it came to the tactics employed.

Sixty-five years previously a great trainer had opted to go for the Derby with his astounding 2000 Guineas winner.  Sixty-five years on, another great trainer took a different view.

On May 3^rd (three days after the Guineas and 32 days before the Derby) Sir Henry Cecil announced that Frankel would not be contesting the Derby, but would be aimed at a mile race at Royal Ascot on June 14^th, a couple of weeks after the Derby.

I imagine he knew that there was work to be done before the horse could be expected to run satisfactorily over middle distances, and that thirty-two days was insufficient time to work the oracle.

How is the job done? The literature of the turf would suggest that the first requirement is a trainer gifted with the wisdom of Solomon, who reviews the horse’s routine, identifies the flash-points that bring out the worst in him, and where possible eliminates them. Like a golfer plotting a path that will allow his ball to avoid deep rough and deeper bunkers. At the same time the trainer would seek to add to that routine such therapies as might help to calm any wayward tendencies. In 1969, when Vincent O’Brien was having trouble with the great Nijinski, then an unbeaten two-year old, he began turning him out in a small paddock each day with his lead horse for company, and his problematic behaviour became a thing of the past.

The next requirement is a team of riders and stable personnel with hands of silk, the patience of Job, and a command of the language with which angels spread peace and goodwill among thoroughbreds. The third is a lead horse that is a model of imperturbability. This animal becomes the patient’s constant companion whenever he goes out to exercise, and when he goes to the races. The lead horse is his comfort blanket, and is expected to be constantly smiling, yawning and humming the anthem of the sixties “Slow down – you move too fast!”

I am fascinated by, rather than a master of, this absorbing aspect of horse management, so the reader would do well to take my opinion with a pinch of salt. On one point, however, I am adamant. Rehabilitation is a process that takes time and cannot be hurried.

At Ascot on the 14^th of June 2011, Frankel ran in the St James’ Palace Stakes over one mile, and won. It was a most peculiar race and there was a certain amount of eccentricity about the manner of his victory. However there were also signs that “rehab” was making progress. He settled when he came out of the stalls, and again when he closed up on the pacemaker, a horse trained by Barry Hills. As for any eccentricity which may then have featured in his path to the winning post, it was not of the horse’s making.  

At Goodwood, five weeks later, he won a four-runner race, leading most of the way. The Racing Post reported that he “took a keen hold, but was always under control”. In the circumstances, another sign that he was going the right way.

Ascot on October 15^th 2011 saw him accompanied for the first time by his half-brother, the five-year-old Bullet Train.  As a three-year-old this horse had earned £36,000 by winning the Lingfield Derby Trial. He then finished last in Workforce’s Derby; and last, or nearly last, in his next four races; as if he knew that it was his destiny to become Frankel’s constant companion, and nothing was going to stop him. In this race at Ascot, Frankel took a keen hold early on, then relaxed and strolled along behind Bullet Train until his jockey asked him to go about his work.  He won by four lengths, and that was the end of his season.

This year? Three times so far Frankel has ambled round the paddock behind his half-brother, thoroughly at peace with the world. A lady’s hunter could not have cantered down to the start more sedately. Any impetuosity when the stalls opened has been confined to the first two or three strides.  Thereafter, relaxation, elegance, effortless athleticism. And when his jockey asked for something extra, he delivered in heaping handfuls.

In my opinion this horse, in his new incarnation, will stay middle distances with the greatest of ease. I look forward to York on Wednesday (one mile and a quarter, plus 88 yards). Nothing in racing is written in stone, but I expect him to win easily. In fact I tend to think that the longer the race, the greater will be his superiority, now that he has settled down. It may be an interesting race in another way: if reputable representatives of the middle distance brigade participate, we will have a fascinating opportunity to find out quite a lot about the pecking order in British racing’s top divisions.

If Frankel wins, all credit to connections for the crucial decision to bypass the Derby of 2011, thus granting Sir Henry Cecil and his superb team the time to rehabilitate their very talented but over-exuberant young star. Thanks to that decision I have no doubt that Frankel is now infinitely better equipped to do justice to his extraordinary talent.

Copyright Andrew Simpson. 13^th August 2012.       1275 words