A performance to shorten the winter

By Alan Conway

In the end it was a performance that had more substance than style. The manner of Frankel’s Dewhurst win may have left people feeling under whelmed but to me it was a performance that will shorten the winter.

Despite both Dream Ahead and Saamid under performing Frankel now heads into winter quarters as a red hot favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas. He is quoted as odds-on with some firms for the first classic next year. If anyone takes odds-on now they need a reality check. We only need to mention St Nicholas Abbey to show the perilous nature of ante post betting.

Some may have cribbed Frankel’s performance but he was never going to win by a country mile last Saturday. The way he won smacked of a true professional just going about his work with the minimum of fuss. Indeed his performance could be rated higher as he was bumped early on in the race and was fighting his jockey most of the way. To pull that hard and still put the rest of the field to bed speaks volumes.

The placed horses add a touch of reality to the form with the proximity of Roderic O’Connor being a slight concern. However it may be that the O’Brien-trained colt has improved a great deal rather than any regression on the part of Frankel.

Glor Na Mara is now saddled with that unfortunate tag of “best maiden in training”. He travelled like the second best horse in the race but couldn’t live with Frankel when he kicked on. He should have no problem picking up a maiden and could be a Group horse next year.

It was disappointing that Dream Ahead and Saamid failed to fire. I would be more downbeat about Saamid than Dream Ahead. You can forgive Dream Ahead for his run as he only ran two weeks earlier in the Middle Park but Saamid had a proper break since his Champagne victory yet he never looked happy before the race and ran accordingly. He will winter in Dubai which has to be another negative against his chances next year as horses who have wintered in Dubai in the last few years have been slow to hand in the opening weeks of the flat season.

It may be that the biggest threat to Frankel may come from the winner of this Saturday’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. This year’s renewal features two high-class juveniles in Dunboyne Express and Casamento. Both horses have done little wrong posting impressive Pattern race victories this year. One slight concern for backers of Dunboyne Express is that he has been off the track for a while. It may not be an issue but race fitness may tell especially if the ground deteriorates.

Whoever wins may not get the respect they warrant unless we see a Frankelesque performance. They will have to live in the long shadow of Frankel until next May.

The book will soon be closed on the 2010 flat season and while Kauto Star, Denman et al are reappearing the memory of Frankel and the promise of what could happen next year will shorten this winter for me.

By Alan Conway