Frankel debut memories: 'I said he might be special - he was incredible'

Big things were expected of Frankel before he made his debut for Sir Henry Cecil in the mile maiden – which is now a mile novice (6.20) – on Friday night at Newmarket nine years ago.

However, no-one could surely have foreseen the legendary story that was about to unfold.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, recalling the eagerly anticipated debut, said: "I was sitting in the Hotel Royal in Deauville as nervous as I've ever been watching a race.

"Prince Khalid was also in the hotel and my wife said to me, 'I've never seen you so nervous before a race, or anything.' I said he might be something special. I didn't realise how wrong I was, he was something incredible."

The incredible Frankel, who would eventually finish his career unbeaten with 14 wins and widely regarded as the greatest horse of all time, did not face an easy task on his debut as in Nathaniel he met a colt who would develop into a top-class performer. And the contest also featured another future Group 1 scorer in Colour Vision, who went on to win the 2012 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Sent off at 7-4 – the only time he went off odds-against – Frankel cruised through the contest under Tom Queally before asserting under hands-and-heels to score by half a length. Only once more – in the following year's St James's Palace Stakes – would a horse finish within a length of him.

Frankel - Tom Queally wins from Excelebration - Joseph O'BrienThe JLT Lockinge Stakes.Newbury 19/5/2012©Pic Mark CranhamCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Grimthorpe added: "It was a good start to his career, beating Nathaniel, who he ended up defeating in the Champion Stakes as well. There's a nice symmetry there.

"He was an exciting horse and that was why I was so nervous, because home work is not the same as racing and to see him do it on the racecourse was great. His career took off from there."

The man lucky enough to call them home that day was Derek Thompson, who remembers a performance which energised the crowd and lit up a dreary evening.

He said: "It was a pretty bleak, dark and drab night. Normally when the weather is like that people just stay in the grandstand, but they all seemed to come out to watch it. I could hear the cheering through my headphones!"

Thompson added: "Nathaniel was very well backed so Frankel needed a good performance to beat him, but he did it stylishly. I thought it was very impressive. Obviously we knew he was very good, he was decent on the gallops, but it was incredible.

"It was a pleasure to call him that day and it's a pleasure to call his sons and daughters now when they’re running."

The race has a reputation for showcasing future stars and in 2017 Roaring Lion, who finished as champion three-year-old colt the following season, took the honours on his debut.

Three to focus on in tonight's race

Wild Thunder
Purchased by Saeed Manana for €105,000 last October, the Richard Hannon-trained Wild Thunder landed a novice at Goodwood in May before failing to fire in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes. He is by Night Of Thunder, who has had the second most winners among first-season sires this year.

Diyari
While John Gosden had to make do with second when Nathaniel was pipped by Frankel, the trainer has won the first two runnings of this novice, including with Roaring Lion. He goes for the hat-trick with Diyari, who is by Dubawi and runs in the colours of Ms Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Discovery Island
The Godolphin representative is by Dubawi and bids to build on Charlie Appleby's 36 per cent strike-rate with two-year-olds this year.

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