The turf: Focus on the Flat

The debate on whether or not the extraordinary Frankel should contest the Derby seems to be concluded, at least in Henry Cecil’s mind, which is the place that matters. The common view seems to be that no mere horse could repeat over the undulations of the four furlongs longer Derby course the extraordinary physical explosion, the sustained surge of power which won him the 2,000 Guineas over a mile at Newmarket,  and so we won’t see the best horse around in the most glorious race there is.

Life is rarely that tidy. Henry Cecil felt it was too soon to test such a speedy horse even over the mile and a quarter of most Derby trials and who can blame him. The problem is that a horse of Frankel’s class would frighten off most of the potential opposition and his sheer class would probably enable him to beat off a small field without necessarily answering the question about whether he might stay the Derby distance.