British Champions Day: Sons of War and Frankel - a marriage made in Heaven

Timeform Debate / Jamie Lynch / 15 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jamie can't decide who he likes more - Natalie Portman or Frankel?

"it’s possible Frankel could achieve the 146+ rating that makes him the greatest racehorse ever in Timeform’s experience..."

Timeform's Head of Research and Handicapping Simon Rowlands had his insightful say on the QEII in his article Sectional timing and Frankel - a marriage made in Heaven. Now the slightly less scientific Jamie Lynch tries in his own way to assess racing's biggest star.

Despite starring Natalie Portman amongst other Hollywood luminaries, Your Highness, released last spring, turned out to be a bit of a turkey. American film critic Andrew O'Hehir said that 'for a few hours after having seen Your Highness, I considered the possibility that it was the worst movie ever made'.

Out of 75% intrigue about the film and 25% hope that there might be a gratuitous bikini shot of Portman (which incidentally there was), I sought out the Your Highness trailer to see exactly what was what. I suggest that you now do the same: not for the purposes of judging the film, though it does look pretty ropey to me, and not even for the purposes of a gawp at Portman, but for the point about 1.45 minutes into the teaser trailer when the background music changes.

Familiar?

It should be to most of you, and, if not already, it certainly will be by the end of the extravaganza on Saturday, because it's the soundtrack to the British Champions Series, which has its high-profile climax at Ascot. Surprisingly, the composition works. I say surprisingly because, though you'd think they'd go hand in hand, previous attempts at dramatic musical accompaniment to racing - whether on individual courses or a TV package - have never really hit the mark.

So why does it work now? Maybe it's just the exposure effect. Maybe it's just the right theme, even though, in developing the music, British horseracing was probably the furthest thing from the mind of the US production company, especially considering that the production company is named Two Steps From Hell and the track is entitled Sons of War. Maybe it's just the right racing series. Or maybe, just maybe, it's just the right horse.

As stirring as the UEFA Champions League anthem (which was specifically commissioned) is, when it blared out at the David Abashidze Stadium on July 27th to herald the teams of FC Zestafoni and Sturm Graz, it didn't seem right, not compared to Barcelona taking to the pitch. When Sons of War rang out at Goodwood on July 27th to herald Frankel, it did seem right.

Frankel is a phenomenal horse. It's because of him that the whole British Champions Series has been elevated from worthwhile innovation to the talk of the town, as well as the reason that some music designed for a computer game or blockbuster movie sounds fitting rather than annoying on an advert for racing or the track itself. Who knows, Frankel may even stop people talking about the whip rule for ten minutes when he struts his stuff for the ninth time on Saturday.

Let's not mess around, Frankel will win the QEII. What we're most interested in is how far will he win by. If he can do it by six or seven lengths, and if he can do it from an on-song Excelebration or Immortal Verse, and if his time performance is supportive, and if we're 100% confident he deserves it, then it's possible Frankel could achieve the 146+ rating that makes him the greatest racehorse ever in Timeform's experience. Lots of ifs there, but the point is thank God we've got this one-in-a-million horse who has the potential to answer the ifs in the affirmative.

Just in case, I'll take my Best of Tina Turner CD with me to Ascot to hijack the Best of Two Steps From Hell.

Ascot isn't all about Frankel. Actually it is, but the rest of the card is top class. Actually it isn't, but the Champion Stakes is as strong a renewal as there has been for a long time. We've been here before, I know, but So You Think is a proper horse, I promise you. All the tributes set out prior to the Arc still stand, as that race didn't really get to the bottom of him, with So You Think drawn wide and settled so far back, and nearly grabbing second as he did was some effort under the circumstances.

With a fairer draw, Ryan Moore back on board and the likelihood of a more attacking ride now he's reverting to a mile and a quarter, the real So You Think will be seen in the Champion Stakes, and the real So You Think is better than the rest can manage.

We'll no doubt hear the workings of Two Steps From Hell during the afternoon. I'm two steps from heaven: Frankel winning by six, and So You Think just winning. If music be the food of love, play on.

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Back So You Think @ [3.3] in the Champion Stakes at Ascot