Simon Rowlands Blog: Frankel, The Superequine

Frankel soaks up the adulation after his International Stakes triumph

Simon Rowlands considers the facts and figures- as well as some of the less tangible impressions- associated with yet another brilliant performance from Frankel at York this week

Not only is Frankel making it difficult for his rivals, he is now making it difficult for those who have to come up with new ways of describing his brilliance, though the facts themselves do a pretty good job.

His win in the Juddmonte International at York this week made it 13 out of 13 in his career, the last eight of them Group 1s, by an average winning margin of more than five and a half lengths. He took on the previous year's winner in Twice Over, a Breeders' Cup winner in St Nicholas Abbey and a triple Group 1-placer in Farhh. And he wiped the floor with them.

It is almost impossible to contemplate defeat for him in the sort of form he was in on the day.

In terms of Timeform ratings, he did not improve his 147 figure achieved at Royal Ascot, but he came pretty close despite probably having more to give.

His performance figure of 143 could have been a bit higher judged on prior-rating standards, but it means that Bullet Train- over 13 lengths back in fifth- is rated no higher than his previous best and that Farhh and St Nicholas Abbey, who fought out second seven lengths adrift of Frankel, are both considered to have underperformed to the tune of 2 lb.

Could Frankel have found the length or two required to run to 147 had it been needed? What do you think?

Sectional timing gives every encouragement. While there were no spectacular sub-11-second furlongs in evidence, Frankel finished the race notably strongly, covering the last two furlongs in 23.55 seconds and in 103.4% of his average race speed while his nearest rivals ran much nearer to 100%.

The reason why Frankel did not (quite) run sub-11-second furlongs is simple. The race itself was run at a sound pace, unlike some of his previous ones, and tested stamina more than raw speed.

The overall time of 2 min 06.59 sec was 1.30 seconds outside the course record set by Sea The Stars in this race in 2009. But, crucially, all the times were slower in 2012 than for the equivalent races three years earlier. Once you adjust for conditions, including wind, Frankel's performance against the clock emerges comfortably the better.

Indeed, Frankel's Timeform timefigure comes out at 136, which is the equal of his timefigure in the 2000 Guineas last year and means that he has the two best time-based ratings by any horse this century.

The arguments about whether Frankel is better than Sea-Bird (145 in 1965) or Brigadier Gerard (144 in 1972) are unlikely to go away, even now, but it is worth remembering that not one horse surpassed 140 in the years after Brigadier Gerard retired and before Frankel burst onto the scene. Frankel has now surpassed that mark six times in a row once ease of victory is allowed for.

Comparisons have been drawn between Frankel and other sporting stars, not least Usain Bolt. If Royal Ascot had been Frankel's equivalent of the 2009 World Championships, at which Bolt set the current 100 metres world record, then York was perhaps analogous with the 2008 Beijing Olympics, at which he ran very nearly as fast despite slowing to celebrate before the line.

It was, if anything, even more memorable in other words.

Like other sports, racing has found itself in the shade of the Olympics in recent weeks, but at York- with the sun shining on a large and appreciative crowd in a breathtakingly beautiful setting- it was magnificent on its own terms. It was an occasion those of us fortunate enough to have been there are unlikely to forget.

There is even more inspirational action in the offing in the weeks ahead, as the Paralympics gets under way, contested by individuals who have overcome immense difficulties to excel at what they do. Cleverly, and justifiably, the Paralympians have been termed "The Superhumans".

Frankel has had no such hurdles to overcome in his life - indeed it has seemed like plain sailing for him almost from start to finish - but he too has become an inspiration and a byword for excellence.

Thank you Frankel, The Superequine.