What are we to make of the latest international rating for the UK superstar Frankel? His win by 5 lengths against some pretty lethargic opposition in Saturday's Grp 1 Lockinge Stakes has earned the Henry Cecil-trained galloper a new rating of 138. Now, if it is ratified by other international handicappers (par for the course), it means the 4YO becomes the highest rated horse since 1996. Last year, Frankel was rated 136. This all begs the question - are these ratings worth two bob? I suspect the
What are we to make of the latest international rating for the UK superstar Frankel? His win by 5 lengths against some pretty lethargic opposition in Saturday's Grp 1 Lockinge Stakes has earned the Henry Cecil-trained galloper a new rating of 138. Now, if it is ratified by other international handicappers (par for the course), it means the 4YO becomes the highest rated horse since 1996. Last year, Frankel was rated 136. This all begs the question - are these ratings worth two bob? I suspect the UK handicapper is getting too over-excited about Frankel's Newbury victory. Fair dinkum, it was a jog trot and the opposition collapsed like the proverbial pack of cards. I fancy Black Caviar could have outsprinted him given the pace of the race.
What did Frankel beat at Newbury? Apart from the runner-up, Excelebration, the other four runners were no-hopers as far as Grp 1 class goes - they had 13 wins between them from 68 races. One of them had won one race from 19 starts. The horse that ran 3rd had won 3 from 18. Even Excelebration's Group form can be questioned. His Grp 1 win at Longchamp saw him beat a moderate 7YO and another moderate 5YO. Neither could make any claim to being really top-class gallopers. So where does all this leave Frankel? I guess it makes him a very good horse - but a 138 rater atop the world?