COUNT the days – there’s 19 of them – until the world’s best racehorse descends on York.

You have to fear for Frankel’s rivals in the Juddmonte International Stakes, the £725,000 jewel which opens the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival on Knavesmire, when a six-length romp in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood is described by the mighty horse’s connections as a “warm-up”.

“The idea was to be as easy as we could with him (ahead of York),” said the colt’s trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, after the 1-20 favourite crushed Farhh in the mile Group 1 contest on Wednesday.

Heaven help everyone else.

The flawless Frankel arrives on August 22 and, with the four-year-old trying to negotiate a trip of a mile and a quarter for the first time, there’s the potential for a contest to rank with the very best in the racecourse’s history.

Forty years ago, a similarly invincible horse came to York for this race, the inaugural contest which was then styled the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup, and went home defeated. Brigadier Gerard was shocked by Roberto. Could the same happen once again?

Racecourse chiefs are hoping for one thing. They want the 2012 version to be a race that’s talked about for the next four decades.

“He’s a horse with a huge reputation but he is coming to put it on the line,” said the track’s head of marketing James Brennan.

“It is going to be a real thrill to see. People still talk about Brigadier Gerard and Roberto and it is hugely exciting.

“It is uncertain territory for him. It’s the first time he will have been further than a mile. The form pundits have looked at his performance and the sense is that he has had plenty in the tank when he has been running over a mile.

“The opposition won’t fancy their chances but they will want to take him on over a different trip. It’s fascinating.”

He will come to York as one of the hottest favourites in the track’s history.

One bookmaker has quoted the 12-time winner at a prohibitive 1-16 for the International, a race which is sponsored by the horse’s owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah.

Frankel is sure to bring with him thousands of curious spectators, with the North Yorkshire racing public expected to turn out in force to catch a glimpse of the wonder horse in the parade ring and on the turf.

At Goodwood this week, the ‘F’ factor put an extra 5,000 on the attendance.

“There was a big flicker this time last year when it was suggested Frankel might come to the Juddmonte International,” Brennan added. “We have been waiting for this moment for a year and it is great that it is so near.

“I am sure his connections will breathe a sigh of relief when he heads to the track and another if he goes on to win. We will be right there with them waiting to see him here and we are hoping it is a great contest.”

 

‘I was there’ – well you can be with new course offer

YORK Racecourse have announced an admission offer for Juddmonte International Day on Wednesday, August 22, to give more people a chance to experience Frankel fever.

A discount of £5, compared to on-the-day price, is available for both the County Stand and Grandstand and Paddock enclosures.

Bookings must be made through the track’s website, www.yorkracecourse.co.uk, and racegoers need to use the promotional code that is relevant to their desired booking, FrankelCS or FrankelGP. The discount code will be available for all new bookings made up to midnight on Sunday.

Speaking about the offer, James Brennan, York’s head of marketing and sponsorship, said: “Frankel is obviously a very special horse and it is a thrilling prospect that he looks set to grace our richest ever race, the 2012 running of the Juddmonte International.

“It promises to be one of those real ‘I was there when’ moments in sport and we wanted to offer people a little incentive so that they can plan to be part of that special atmosphere.”