Excelebration Trimmed Significantly for Lockinge Upset
- By A.J. Ryder on May 15, 2012 18:09 GMT
There appears to be a definite gamble underway as more than a few punters seem convinced that Frankel is beatable this Saturday in his seasonal debut at Newbury. The Group 1 Lockinge Stakes is set to unfold and we've seen the O'Brien-trained colt get hit from 7/2 down to 11/4 and we can now report that he's as short as 9/4 with several bookmakers.
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Frankel continues to trade at a slim price anywhere from 1/3 to 4/11 and it looks as though some significant swings in the wagering are still to come throughout the week.
The contest is rapidly becoming a two-horse race, especially as question marks now appear over top of So You Think, who may be withdrawn based on the going at Newbury come Saturday. Some bookmakers have stopped taking bets on the globetrotting New Zealand-bred.
Excelebration is a Group 2 winner at Newbury and he finished second to mighty Frankel here last year in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes when sent off at 25/1. His recent victory at the Curragh in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes showed how much confidence the punters have in him now, as he was bet down to 2/7 on the day in a six horse field.
One of the best examples of his versatility was a score at Longchamp in the Qatar Prix Du Moulin where he toppled the likes of Rio De La Plata, Dubawi Gold and Rasjaman.
Excelebration also ran a notable second to Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot back in October. Cumulatively, he has been beaten by 10.25 lengths over three races to Frankel – always hitting the board.
The presence of Frankel's pacemaker Bullet Train could likely complicate things for the four-year-old son of Exceed And Excel thanks to his preference for a stalking trip. He won't want to get too close to Bullet Train who is going to tear out of the gate and lay down as fast a pace as possible. This may force him into a trip he may not want and this will allow Queally to pounce at the right moment with Frankel's devastating turn of foot.
