Frankel (horse) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frankel
Frankel in his second start at Doncaster
Sire	Galileo
Grandsire	Sadler's Wells
Dam	Kind
Damsire	Danehill
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	11 February 2008
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Juddmonte Farms
Owner	Khalid Abdullah
Trainer	Sir Henry Cecil
Jockey	Tom Queally
Record	14: 14–0–0
Earnings	£2,998,302
Major wins
Royal Lodge Stakes (2010) Dewhurst Stakes (2010) Greenham Stakes (2011) 2000 Guineas Stakes (2011) St James's Palace Stakes (2011) Sussex Stakes (2011, 2012) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2011) Lockinge Stakes (2012) Queen Anne Stakes (2012) International Stakes (2012) Champion Stakes (2012)
Awards
World Thoroughbred Rankings Leader (2011, 2012) European Horse of the Year (2011, 2012) European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (2010) European Champion Three-Year-Old Colt (2011) European Champion Older Horse (2012) British Champions Series Hall of Fame (2021) World Sire of the Year (2021) Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland (2021, 2023) Timeform rating: 147

Frankel (born February 11, 2008) is a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse. He is now retired from racing and is a successful sire (a male horse used for breeding). Frankel never lost a single race in his entire career, winning all fourteen of them! From May 2011, he was known as the best racehorse in the world.

Frankel was trained by Sir Henry Cecil in Newmarket. His jockey for all his races was Tom Queally. He won many important races, including the 2000 Guineas and the Champion Stakes. After his racing career, he became a top breeding horse, with many of his offspring also winning major races.

Frankel's Background

Frankel is a bay horse, which means he has a reddish-brown body with a black mane, tail, and lower legs. He has a large white star on his forehead and a white snip on his nose. All four of his feet are white. He was bred by Juddmonte Farms and owned by Khalid Abdullah. He was named after a famous American horse trainer, Bobby Frankel.

Frankel's sire (father) is Galileo, a champion racehorse and sire. His dam (mother) is Kind, who was a sprint race winner. Kind's father was another champion sire named Danehill. Even though Galileo won a very long race called The Derby, some people wondered if Frankel would be good at long distances. So, his trainers decided to focus on shorter races for him.

Frankel's mother, Kind, has other successful children too. Her son Bullet Train often helped Frankel by setting the pace in training. Another son, Noble Mission, also became a Group 1 winner, just like Frankel.

Frankel's Racing Career

2010: Two-Year-Old Races

Frankel started his racing career on August 13, 2010. His first race was a one-mile maiden race (for horses who haven't won yet) at Newmarket. He started slowly but quickly caught up and won easily.

A few weeks later, he raced at Doncaster. He won by a huge 13 lengths, showing how fast he was.

Winning the Royal Lodge Stakes

On September 25, Frankel raced in a Group race for the first time. This was the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot. He made an amazing move around the final turn and won by 10 lengths. Another horse in that race, Treasure Beach, went on to win important races the next year. His trainer, Henry Cecil, said Frankel was improving a lot.

Winning the Dewhurst Stakes

Frankel's last race as a two-year-old was the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 16. This was his first Group 1 race, which is the highest level of horse racing. Two other unbeaten horses were in the race, making it very exciting. Frankel won comfortably by over two lengths, even though he moved a bit to the right near the end. The horse he beat, Roderic O'Connor, also went on to win Group 1 races.

2011: Three-Year-Old Races

Greenham Stakes Victory

Frankel's first race as a three-year-old was the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 16. He won by four lengths against a strong horse named Excelebration. His trainer believed Frankel would get even better before his next big race.

The Amazing 2000 Guineas

Frankel's racing colours, those of Prince Khalid Abdulla

On April 30, Frankel was the favorite to win the 2000 Guineas race. He surprised everyone by immediately taking the lead. He was about 15 lengths ahead halfway through the race and won by six lengths. This was the biggest winning margin in that race since 1947! People called his performance "barely believable" and said he was a "superstar."

St James's Palace Stakes Challenge

Many thought Frankel would race in the Epsom Derby, but his team decided against it. Instead, he ran in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 14. A pacemaker (a horse that runs fast early to help another horse) set a very quick speed. Frankel chased the pacemaker and took a big lead. However, another horse, Zoffany, came very close at the end. Frankel still won, but only by a small margin. Some people thought his jockey had pushed him too hard early in the race.

Dominating the Sussex Stakes

The Sussex Stakes on July 27 was called "The Duel on the Downs" because it was a highly anticipated race between Frankel and Canford Cliffs, another top horse. Frankel won by five lengths, easily beating Canford Cliffs, who had won five Group 1 races in a row. Canford Cliffs was retired after this race due to an injury.

After this win, Frankel's official rating was raised, making him the best racehorse in the world. His trainer, Henry Cecil, said Frankel was the best horse he had ever seen.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Win

On October 15, Frankel raced in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Even with his great reputation, many strong horses competed against him. He won by four lengths, with Excelebration (who he had beaten before) coming in second. This was the third time Frankel had beaten Excelebration. At the end of his three-year-old season, Frankel was rated as one of the best horses of all time.

2012: Four-Year-Old Races

As a four-year-old, Frankel was expected to race over longer distances. His trainer believed he would improve even more and could handle races over ten furlongs (about 1.25 miles).

Injury Scare and Comeback

In April 2012, there were worries that Frankel had injured his leg. Luckily, scans showed no serious damage. After some rest, he began training again and looked strong in a public workout.

Lockinge Stakes Return

On May 19, Frankel made his first start of the year in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. His old rival, Excelebration, was also in the race. Frankel easily won by five lengths, showing he was still the best. His trainer said Frankel would get even better as the season went on.

Queen Anne Stakes Triumph

On June 19, Frankel raced in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was a huge favorite to win. He took the lead early and pulled away to win by eleven lengths from Excelebration. This performance was called one of the greatest in horse racing history. One racing expert rated him as the highest-rated horse ever.

Second Sussex Stakes Win

On August 1, Frankel won the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood for the second time. He was a massive favorite and won by six lengths. This win meant he equaled the record for most consecutive Group 1 wins in Europe (seven in a row). His jockey said Frankel was "a class apart from any other horse."

Juddmonte International Stakes Debut

Frankel goes to the post for the Juddmonte International at York, 2012

On August 22, Frankel raced in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. This was his first time racing over more than a mile (10 furlongs). Everyone was excited to see if he could handle the longer distance. He won easily by seven lengths, showing his incredible speed and stamina. His trainer, Henry Cecil, who had been ill, said the win made him feel "twenty years better." Many experts said Frankel might be the best racehorse ever.

Champion Stakes: His Final Race

Frankel in the winners' enclosure at Ascot after winning his final race, the Champion Stakes

On October 20, Frankel ran his last race, the Champion Stakes at Ascot. The ground was very soft and muddy, which was a new challenge for him. Even though he started a bit slowly, he still won by almost two lengths. A huge crowd of 32,000 people cheered him on. After the race, his owner confirmed that Frankel would retire from racing and become a breeding horse.

His trainer, Henry Cecil, said, "He's the best I've ever had, the best I've ever seen." Many people praised Cecil for how he trained Frankel, especially while battling cancer himself.

Frankel's Race Record

Awards After Racing

In 2021, Frankel was one of the first two horses to be added to the British Champions Series Hall of Fame. In 2023, fans voted him the "People's Champion."

Frankel's Stud Career

After retiring from racing, Frankel became a stallion (a male horse used for breeding) at Banstead Manor Stud in Cheveley, Cambridgeshire. He started breeding in February 2013. His fee for breeding was very high, showing how valuable he was. In his first year, he bred with 133 mares, and most of them became pregnant. In 2014, his first foal (baby horse) to be sold at auction went for over £1 million!

Frankel's first foal to race was a colt named Cunco, who won his first race in May 2016. Soon after, Frankel's children started winning major races. In 2016, his daughter Soul Stirring won a top race in Japan. In 2017, his son Cracksman won a European Group 1 race. Because of his successful children, Frankel's breeding fee continued to increase.

By 2018, Frankel had produced 20 Group winners faster than almost any other European sire. His children included Without Parole and Cracksman, who won important races at Royal Ascot and the Champion Stakes.

In 2021, Frankel was the top breeding horse in Great Britain and Ireland. His children earned over £5.2 million! Some of his most famous children include Adayar and Hurricane Lane, who won the Epsom and Irish Derbies. In 2022, his daughter Alpinista won the very famous Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. His breeding fee for 2024 was £350,000.

Notable Children of Frankel

Here are some of Frankel's most famous children and the big races they have won:

Images for kids

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  Frankel in his second start at Doncaster

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  Frankel's racing colours, those of Prince Khalid Abdulla

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  Frankel goes to the post for the Juddmonte International at York, 2012

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  Frankel in the winners' enclosure at Ascot after winning his final race, the Champion Stakes