Frankel’s 115th stakes winner overnight – in the Group 3 Chester Vase – may well provide champion jockey, Frankie Dettori, with a third and final Epsom Derby after Arrest notched up his third race victory with a 6.5 length romp.
The Frankel colt has now moved into the second line of betting for the Derby but the Juddmonte owned colt clearly prefers the softer going.
“We had a soft-ground Derby last year so you don't know,” an enthusiastic Dettori said post race. “He’s got a million alternatives if it becomes too firm. This is a good trial, he stays well and he ticks a lot of boxes.”
After a glittering career – recently landing his fourth 2,000 Guineas on Chaldean – Dettori will retire from the saddle at the end of the 2023 racing season, while trainer, John Gosden, has long-term plans for his Frankel colt, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: “he’s got the scope to train on at 3, 4 and 5 if you wanted to”.
Meanwhile, Frankel’s sire – the late and very great Galileo – posted his 361st individual stakes winner at Chester when Savethelastdance won the Cheshire Oaks by a whopping 22 lengths.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the filly (not surprisingly) is now a firm favourite for the Group 1 Epsom Oaks next month.
With two from three, the Coolmore owned filly is the first foal of Group 1 American Oaks winner Daddys Lil Darling.
