Features

An array of stars from the world of television, sport and media have come out in force to heap praise on wonderhorse Frankel, in advance of his final appearance at Ascot for QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday 20^th October.

Amongst them are TV’s Ant and Dec, both huge racing fans who will be at QIPCO British Champions Day, and who have proclaimed the horse as, “A true great of the sport who has reached the consciousness of the wider public. We can’t wait to see him again this year!”

Michael Owen, a racehorse owner himself said, “Like all athletic greats, Frankel has a knack of making exceptional opposition look inferior,” whilst fellow Premiership footballer Tom Cleverley said, “In football terms, Frankel reminds me of Ronaldo - big, strong, tall, imposing and most of all very fast. He’s an incredible horse.”

And the comparisons don’t stop there with TV presenter Clare Balding comparing him to Usain Bolt and the football pundit Robbie Savage likening Frankel’s domination of the sport to the record-breaking exploits of Arsenal’s Invicibles team of 2003-04.

And, according to super-middle weight boxing champion, Carl Froch, Frankel’s had to take more hits that his rivals in order to stay at the top of his game: “When you are the best, it’s harder to stay on top as rivals go at you that extra bit harder so they can be the one to say they beat you. So when you measure Frankel’s success and consider that, like a boxer, he’s had to take the hardest shots any of his rivals could muster, he’s a true sporting great.”

The full list of quotes is below:

"Every sport needs a jaw-dropper. The kind of athlete who makes you stop and stare. Frankel is racing's Usain Bolt. He makes it look so easy, it's almost ridiculous. I feel privileged to have seen him race and I have certainly never seen a better horse in my lifetime."
Clare Balding, Presenter

“Having seen Frankel performing live at British Champions Day last year, we really appreciate what a magnificent animal he is; a true great of the sport who has reached the consciousness of the wider public. We can’t wait to see him again this year!”
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (Ant & Dec), TV Presenters

“Like all athletic greats, Frankel has a knack of making exceptional opposition look inferior, or in his case, proper Group 1 horses shape like mere handicappers. His talent transcends our sport, like no other horse I can remember during my lifetime.”
Michael Owen, Footballer

"It's not often you get a sporting legend that's not human, and even less often for something or someone to be unbeaten throughout a career. In football terms, Frankel reminds me of Ronaldo - big, strong, tall, imposing and most of all very fast. An incredible horse."
Tom Cleverley, Footballer

“It’s amazing to have such an incredible horse as Frankel. He’s better than anything else out there, so we’ve all been really lucky to have the chance to see him. It’s also been absolutely brilliant for Sir Henry Cecil – he’s not been in the best of health lately, so I’m really pleased he’s had Frankel to keep his spirits up.”
Harry Redknapp, Football Manager

"Frankel's achievements are the equivalent of Arsenal's 2003-04 Invincibles side when they won every single one of their matches. Even people with no interest in the sport know all about Frankel as he is a total one off – and a great tribute to his trainer Sir Henry Cecil."  
Robbie Savage, BBC football pundit

“The world’s best racehorse trained by the greatest trainer I’ve seen, Frankel and Sir Henry Cecil really are the perfect combination, and in what has been the most remarkable sporting year, their achievements will live long in the memory of all race fans. I was fortunate enough to be at Royal Ascot this summer to witness his extraordinary Queen Anne Stakes win, and incredibly he looked even better when stepping up in trip in the Juddmonte International at York.  It is entirely fitting that Frankel is the headline act at the second QIPCO Champions Day, as he is without doubt the ultimate equine champion.”
Jeremy Kyle, Presenter

“I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world to study the anatomy of some of the most extraordinary animals on earth – from Polar Bears in the Arctic to Hippos in Zambia. But, as a scientist, the one animal I would love to get my hands on is Frankel. With their huge hearts, cavernous lungs, self-doping spleens, built-in biceps catapults and light, long pogo-stick legs, all champion race horses are extraordinary biological machines. But, as an equine athlete, Frankel is clearly in a class of his own.”
Mark Evans, Channel 4’s ‘Inside Nature’s Giants’

“When you are the best, it’s harder to stay on top as rivals go at you that extra bit harder so they can be the one to say they beat you. So when you measure Frankel’s success and consider that, like a boxer, he’s had to take the hardest shots any of his rivals could muster, he’s a true sporting great.”
Carl Froch, Champion Boxer

“I think Frankel is a freak; he has to be the best flat horse of all time.”
Nick Skelton, Olympic Gold Medallist

“Henry and his team have handled Frankel impeccably.  When he accelerates, he destroys the opposition in about 100yds.  He is a magnificent racing machine.”
Sir Michael Stoute, Racehorse Trainer

"Frankel is a phenomenon, a once in a lifetime horse who has made the difficult leap from a star of our sport to a superstar that has transcended racing."
Alex Hammond, Sky Sports

“Quite simply the best horse I’ve ever seen in the flesh. Truly magnificent and I’m delighted for Sir Henry Cecil. We pray he wins.”
Alan Brazil, Radio Presenter

“Every time I’ve see him he just looks like he’s playing with the field – he’s in an absolute league of his own. I think he’s the best of all time and it’s a privilege to be around when he’s racing. I really hope that he goes out with a 100% record!”
Scott Brash, Olympic Gold Medallist