Champion Stakes: Buick up for Frankel challenge

William Buick believes Nathaniel could at least give Frankel something to think about should the pair lock horns in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October...

While plans for Frankel, the world's highest-rated racehorse, remain up in the air, the Champion Stakes would seem his most likely next objective and that could see him clash with John Gosden's Nathaniel for the second time. The duo met on their respective debuts at Newmarket a couple of years ago, with Nathaniel getting within half a length of Sir Henry Cecil's colt.

Nathaniel himself has proven to be a Group 1 performer, winning the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and finishing first and second in the last two runnings of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. His jockey will be hoping for testing conditions at Ascot, should the rematch happen.

"I think the horse (Frankel) is probably unbeatable, but we've got a horse in Nathaniel who probably at some stage will have a go," Buick told At The Races.

"If Ascot came up testing and stamina came into it, he will definitely give him a run for his money. I think he is still the horse to get nearest to him and I think and I hope he can get even nearer. If stamina comes into it, I would be putting emphasis on that and try to find any chinks that Frankel does have, which he probably doesn't, but you have to give it a go."

Buick admits he is in awe of Frankel having ridden against him and is amazed by how he can make genuine Group 1 performers look average.

"You saw what Frankel did to Excelebration and you saw what Excelebration did to the rest of the milers in the Prix Jacques le Marois, so that's your line," said Buick.

"St Nicholas Abbey is a Breeders' Cup Turf winner, was third in the King George in consecutive years, and Frankel just makes mincemeat of them. I think we all just have to enjoy him. It's a pleasure to be riding in races with him. I've never seen a horse who can accelerate like him, he just leaves everything standing. If you're a lover of racing, you enjoy watching it. He's the best horse I've seen and he's probably the best horse there's ever been, so being around when he's around is a pleasure."

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