Frankel and Black Caviar
Well call me a wrong’un if you will, but I seem to be the only one who’s come out of Royal Ascot more impressed by Black Caviar and connections than Frankel.
Let’s look at the facts.
Frankel won over a mile (again) beating the same horse (again). Yes it was an 11 length demolition; yes he’s a brilliant horse; yes he’s possibly (I stress POSSIBLY) the best miler (I stress MILER) ever.
Black Caviar scrambled home to get up by the skinniest of margins. Possibly she’s not the superstar/best-ever that was being bandied about before Royal Ascot.
But this isn’t about who is or might be the best ever. With international sport we must admire the risk taken and efforts to race abroad. Black Caviar could easily have stayed in Australia beating up the same sprinters (just has Frankel has been beating up the same British milers ever since his debut).
But instead she flew half-way around the world, ran a stiffer track than she’s used to, against unfamiliar horses. She should be applauded.
And what of Frankel now? There’s talk of the Sussex Stakes. Hmm what’s the Sussex Stakes? It is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres).
So that’s going to be Frankel, Excelebration and a load of old rubbish for what seems like the fiftieth time this year. And what price does he go off? 1-20? 1-50? Where’s the drama in that? Where the sport in that?
I really think we need to address this. Does anyone bother watching Djokovic’s first round match in a slam? No – because he’s 1-20. We all want to tune in when he gets to the semi and is tested against Roger or Rafa.
Well I think it’s the same with racing. I am NOT interested in the Sussex Stakes. Why would I want to watch a 1-20 shot beat the same horse over and over again? Put him in the Arc, put him in the Breeders Cup. Have him take on Camelot, Cirrus des Aigles, St Nicholas Abbey and some of the top international horses. Otherwise, I’m saving my cheers and my affection for the Australian wonder mare.
