Frankel 1/1 to beat Canford Cliffs if they meet in Sussex Stakes

Frankel taking on Canford Cliffs is the one race that all horse racing enthusiasts want to see to confirm which is the best horse in the world over 1m and the early betting suggests that this year’s superstar will finally meet his match.

July 27th is a day that needs to be left free as Frankel is due to take on his elders for the first time in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Frankel extended his unbeaten streak to seven successive victories when landing the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, although the success was not as dominant as many had predicted.

Setting off at his customary blistering gallop, Sir Henry Cecil’s three-year-old repeated the same race strategy that had seen him romp to victory in the 2000 Guineas last month.

However, this time fatigue began to kick in far sooner and Frankel was left holding on by the finish as Zoffany and Excelebration continued to eat up the ground with every stride.

Canford Cliffs had no such troubles in beating Goldikova in the Queen Anne Stakes over the same 1m as Frankel’s victory and triumphed in a time that was almost one second faster.

The head-to-head market has Canford Cliffs as the 8/11 favourite in the Sussex Stakes odds to beat Frankel and based on their performances at Royal Ascot, this seems reasonable.

But Frankel would surely do a better job of seeing out all of the 1m trip if he was ridden with more restraint in the early stages of a race by Tom Queally.

In the past Frankel has proved tough to ride patiently and there is the argument that it takes more out of him trying to hold him up rather than letting him use his long stride to full effect early on.

Frankel’s odds are 1/1 to beat Canford Cliffs in the Sussex Stakes, although there is the belief that he could step up in distance to 1m2f next to take on his own age group again at York in the Juddmonte International on August 17th.