Frankel Wins Sussex Stakes, Heads for Juddmonte International

It was also Frankel’s 12th consecutive seemingly effortless victory, with what many consider to be his biggest challenge yet lying ahead. The Juddmonte International Stakes at York Racecourse on 22 August will be Frankel’s first attempt at running more than a mile.

With jockey Tom Queally on board, Frankel beat Farhh by a record six lengths in a race with history going back to 1841. As the son of dual Derby winner Galileo, Frankel will be tackling a distance of 10 furlongs in the Juddmonte Stakes. The twenty horse field includes Cirrus Des Aigles, Monterosso, and St Nicholas Abbey. With Frankel treating Group One races as a walk in the park, his jockey appears to have no doubt that the extra two furlongs will be a minor challenge for the championship horse.

While Farhh was a favorite in the paddock for the Sussex Stakes, when the starting gates opened Frankel’s half-brother Bullet Train took the lead, but was unable to keep up the pace and Fahrr, with Frankie Dettori on board briefly took the lead before being passed by Frankel who streaked ahead to victory.

First run in 1972 and currently sponsored by Juddmonte Farms, the International Stakes is run each year in August at the York Racecourse over a distance of 2,092 meters, or 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards. The 2011 purse was £700,000 with Sir Henry Cecil trained Twice Over earning the prize with a time of 2:14.70. The race is run during the four day Ebor Festival which has a history going back to 1843. The program has feature races on each of the four days and is the richest event on York’s racing calendar, attracting both local and international horse racing enthusiasts. The Juddmonte International is run on the first day, along with the Acomb Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes. Day two features the Lowther Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks, with day three featuring the Nunthorpe Stakes, Gimcrack Stakes and Strensall Stakes. The final day of the Ebor festival features the Ebor Handicap and Lonsdale Cup.